The invention is directed to novel combinations of liver specific
enhancers and promoter elements for achieving persistent transgene
expression in the liver. The liver specific enhancer elements may be
derived from either the human serum albumin, prothrombin,
.alpha.-1microglobulin or aldolase genes in single copies or in
multimerized form linked to elements derived from the cytomegalovirus
intermediate early (CMV), .alpha.-1-antitrypsin or albumin promoters. In
a preferred embodiment of the invention, an adenoviral vector comprising
a liver specific enhancer/promoter combination operably linked to a
transgene is administered to recipient cells. In other embodiments of the
invention, adeno-associated viral vectors, retroviral vectors, lentiviral
vectors or a plasmid comprising the liver specific enhancer/promoter
combination linked to a transgene is administered to recipient cells.
Also within the scope of the invention are promoter elements derived from
the human prothrombin gene and the .beta.-fibrinogen gene.