Normalization of growth in hypophysectomized mice using hydrodynamic transfer of the human growth hormone gene.
Nonviral gene transfer was investigated as a potential treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) using hypophysectomized mice as a model. After a single hydrodynamic administration of naked plasmid DNA containing the human growth hormone (hGH) gene controlled by an ubiquitin promoter, sustained elevation of circulating hGH was observed the entire observation period (68 days), with a concomitant normalization of circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3. Furthermore, longitudinal growth was corrected in terms of normalization of tibia length, tail length, and body weight gain. Liver, spleen, and lung weights were normalized, whereas heart weight was normalized partly. hGH mRNA was expressed exclusively in liver tissue. In conclusion, we showed that nonviral hGH gene transfer normalizes longitudinal growth in hypophysectomized mice, indicating that this method potentially could be relevant as a new therapeutic tool in the clinical handling of GHD.
Sondergaard
Morten
M
Dept. of Human Genetics, Univ. of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Dagnaes-Hansen
Frederik
F
Flyvbjerg
Allan
A
Jensen
Thomas G
TG
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015870:Gene Expression; D006128:Growth; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013154:Spleen / Q000254:growth & development; D013623:Tail / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013977:Tibia / Q000254:growth & development; D014162:Transfection; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000235:genetics; D015430:Weight Gain
D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D025801:Ubiquitin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D004247:DNA