title: HVJ-liposome mediated gene transfer into hepatocytes in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The efficient transduction of appropriate target cells will be critical for gene therapy. We evaluated the suitability of hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposome-mediated gene transfer for gene therapy of liver diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) gene was introduced into rat liver by HVJ-liposome to examine gene transfer efficacy and persistence of expression with or without partial hepatectomy prior to transfection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 30% of hepatocytes were transduced after portal vein injection. Gene expression was transient, with only 2% of hepatocytes expressing beta-gal after 4 weeks. However, partial hepatectomy performed 24 h prior to injection resulted in persistently high levels of beta-gal for 4 weeks after injection. A 247-bp beta-gal polymerase chain reaction fragment transcript was detected in livers of transfected rats, but not in livers of control rats. The rat livers following gene transfer were histologically normal, and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase was not found to be elevated in rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that HVJ-liposome-mediated gene transfer produced high gene transduction and persistent gene expression in the liver.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morisita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaneda
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018108:Respirovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase