Direct gene transfer into rat articular cartilage by in vivo electroporation.
To establish a system for efficient direct in vivo gene targeting into rat joint, we have evaluated a strategy of gene transfer by means of the delivery of external electric pulses (EP) to the knee after intra-articular injection of a reporter gene (GFP). Rats were killed at various times after the electro gene-therapy to analyze GFP gene expression by immunohistochemistry. GFP staining was detected in the superficial, middle, and deep zones of the patellar cartilage at days 2 and 9, and thereafter only in the deep zone (months 1 and 2). The average percentage of GFP-positive cells was estimated at 30% both one and 2 months after the gene transfer. Moreover, no pathologic change caused by the EP was detected in the cartilage. The level and stability of the long-term GFP expression found in this study demonstrate the feasibility of a treatment of joint disorders (inflammatory or degenerative, focal or diffuse) using electric gene transfer.
Unité Mixte de Recherches 7561, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Université Henri Poincaré Nancy 1, Faculté de Médecine, Avenue de la Forêt de Haye, BP184, F-54505 Vandoeuvre lès Nancy, France.
Laurent
L
Grossin
Christel
C
Cournil-Henrionnet
Lluis M
LM
Mir
Bertrand
B
Liagre
Dominique
D
Dumas
Stéphanie
S
Etienne
Corinne
C
Guingamp
Patrick
P
Netter
Pierre
P
Gillet
D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism*; D018274:Electroporation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins