title: Liposome-mediated gene transfer to fetal human ventral mesencephalic explant cultures.
abstract: The feasibility of non-viral gene transfer using liposomes is described for human fetal nigral tissue. Ventral mesencephalic explants from 6 to 12 week old fetuses were grown as free-floating roller tube cultures. For the transfection, a vector coding for beta-galactosidase driven by the Rous Sarcoma Virus promoter was used. The developmental stage of the human tissue, time in vitro and the amount of vector DNA used significantly influenced the transfection efficiency. Optimal transfection results were obtained with tissue from a 10 week old fetus, cultured for 4 days and transfected with mixtures containing 4 microg vector DNA. Histological analysis suggested that a specific population of ventral mesencephalic precursor cells were the target for the gene transfer. This finding might have implications for gene delivery and cell replacement strategies in Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Klinikum Grobetahadern, University of Munich, Marchioninistrabetae 15, 81366, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sautter
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueffing
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Widmer
mesh_terms: D001358:Avian Sarcoma Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000166:cytology*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D001616:beta-Galactosidase