Genetic manipulations of experimental animals have provided valuable information on lipoprotein metabolismin vivo. Somatic gene transfer is a novel method for introducing foreign genes into animalsin vivo. Adenovi rus-mediated transfer of genes for the LDL receptor, the receptor-associated protein, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein E, cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, and apolipoprotein B messenger RNA editing protein has resulted in high-level expression of these transgenes in mice and hamsters, and the production of interesting animal models of lipoprotein metabolism. Somatic gene transfer is a valuable tool for analyzing the role of transgenes in lipoprotein metabolismin vivoand for exploring the potential use of specific transgenes for human gene therapy.
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