Adeno-associated virus (AAV)–based gene therapy is being applied to treat a wide array of diseases. Preexisting host immune responses to AAV and immune responses elicited by AAV vector administration remain a problem that needs to be further studied. Here we present a series of protocols to assess immune responses before and after AAV vector administration that are applicable to multiple animal models and phase 1 clinical trials. More specifically, they may be use to evaluate (1) the humoral immune response, through levels of AAV-neutralizing and binding antibodies; (2) the innate immune response, through the acute induction of inflammatory cytokines; and (3) the T-cell immune response, through the activation of transgene- and vector-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells.
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