Receptor ligand-facilitated gene transfer: Enhancement of liposome-mediated gene transfer and expression by transferrin

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171 Scopus citations

Abstract

A high-efficiency, nonviral gene transfer protocol employing cationic liposome plus a receptor ligand is described. The delivery of the β-galactosidase (β-Gal) gene (pCMVlacZ) by lipofectin plus transferrin can achieve 98-100% transfection of HeLa cells as compared to 3-4% by lipofectin alone. A dose-dependent gene transfer was observed between 1 and 16 μg transferrin, and maximal transfection efficiency was obtained at ≥16 μg transferrin. The expression of β-Gal activity in 100% transfected cells decreased progressively with each passage and returned to the baseline value after six passages, indicating that the DNA delivered was only transiently expressed. The amount of DNA delivered to the cells by lipofectin plus transferrin was approximately two times that obtained by lipofectin, which in turn was two times that by transferrin or without lipofectin and transferrin. In addition, DNA can form complexes with lipofectin and transferrin. These results suggest that transferrin enhances gene transfer and expression in the presence of lipofectin by further facilitating the entry of DNA into the cells through the lipofectin-DNA-transferrin complex. The enhancement of liposome-mediated gene transfer efficiency and expression by transferrin varies with different cationic liposomes. The four different liposomes examined show the following relative transfection efficiency: transfectin > lipofectACE >> DC-cholesterol >> lipofectAMINE.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)275-282
Number of pages8
JournalHuman gene therapy
Volume7
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 10 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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