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Electroporation enhances reporter gene expression following delivery of naked plasmid DNA to the lung
Author(s) -
Pringle Ian A.,
McLachlan Gerry,
Collie David D. S.,
SumnerJones Stephanie G.,
Lawton Anna E.,
Tennant Peter,
Baker Alison,
Gordon Catherine,
Blundell Richard,
Varathalingam Anusha,
Davies Lee A.,
Schmid Ralph A.,
Cheng Seng H.,
Porteous David J.,
Gill Deborah R.,
Hyde Stephen C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the journal of gene medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.689
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1521-2254
pISSN - 1099-498X
DOI - 10.1002/jgm.1026
Subject(s) - electroporation , luciferase , microbiology and biotechnology , gene delivery , green fluorescent protein , transfection , plasmid , reporter gene , genetic enhancement , naked dna , chemistry , biology , gene expression , gene , biochemistry
Background Existing methods of non‐viral airway gene transfer suffer from low levels of efficiency. Electroporation has been used to enhance gene transfer in a range of tissues. Here we assess the usefulness of electroporation for enhancing gene transfer in the lungs of mice and sheep. Methods Naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) expressing either luciferase or green fluorescent protein (GFP) was delivered to mouse lungs by instillation. Following surgical visualisation, the lungs were directly electroporated and the level and duration of luciferase activity was assessed and cell types that were positive for GFP were identified in lung cryosections. Naked pDNA was nebulised to the sheep lung and electrodes attached to the tip of a bronchoscope were used to electroporate airway segment bifurcations, Luciferase activity was assessed in electroporated and control non‐electroporated regions, after 24 h. Results Following delivery of naked pDNA to the mouse lung, electroporation resulted in up to 400‐fold higher luciferase activity than naked pDNA alone when luciferase was under the control of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Following delivery of a plasmid containing the human polyubiquitin C (UbC) promoter, electroporation resulted in elevated luciferase activity for at least 28 days. Visualisation of GFP indicated that electroporation resulted in increased GFP detection compared with non‐electroporated controls. In the sheep lung electroporation of defined sites in the airways resulted in luciferase activity 100‐fold greater than naked pDNA alone. Conclusions These results indicate that electroporation can be used to enhance gene transfer in the lungs of mice and sheep without compromising the duration of expression. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.