Protein transduction domain of membrane penetrating peptide can efficiently deliver DNA and protein into mouse liver for gene therapy.
BACKGROUND
The development of a harmless and efficient nonviral gene delivery system that can facilitate the penetration of nucleic acids through the plasma membrane is a key to successful gene therapy. The aim of this study was to test a nonviral gene transferring vector's function of delivering DNA into liver cells to provide an important clue for gene transfer in liver gene therapy.


METHODS
The complex of DNA and DNA delivering protein was injected into mice through their tail veins. Then the mice were killed and their liver tissue was sectioned. The gene transferring results were detected using a confocal laser scanning microscope.


RESULTS
Fluorescence analysis indicated that both DNA-membrane penetrating peptide (MPP) complex and DNA- hepatocyte specific receptor binding domain (HSRBD)-MPP complex could go into liver cells. The fluorescence value of liver cells in the DNA- HSRBD-MPP group was higher than that in the DNA-MPP group.


CONCLUSIONS
MPP can successfully deliver DNA and protein into cells, and MPP with a HSRBD can specifically deliver DNA into liver cells. These have laid a foundation for further study on the nonviral liver cell gene delivering system.
Xie
Jun
J
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China. xiejunty@yahoo.com
Yu
Bao-Feng
BF
Xu
Jun
J
Zhang
Yue-Hong
YH
Cheng
Niu-Liang
NL
Niu
Bo
B
Hu
Xiao-Nian
XN
Xiang
Qian
Q
Zhang
Zheng-Guo
ZG
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011897:Random Allocation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D004247:DNA