title: Development of gene vectors for pinpoint targeting to human hepatocytes by cationically modified polymer complexes.
abstract: We developed a vector that might enable gene therapy of metabolic liver disease or hepatoma. Here we demonstrate the use of cationically modified biocompatible phospholipid polymer conjugated with hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen for the specific transfer of genes into human hepatocytes. Poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)- co-N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA)-co- p-nitrophenylcarbonyloxyethyl methacrylate(NPMA))(polyMDN) was prepared as a frame of vector. The specific expression of sFlt-1 or GFP by polyMDN conjugated with HBs containing plasmid (plasmid/polyMDN-HBs), polyMDN containing plasmid (plasmid/polyMDN), plasmid only and PBS were assessed in tumor cells (HepG2 or WiDr) in vitro and in vivo. The histological findings, organ weight changes, and degree of liver dysfunction were examined in the mice administered by several reagents. The sFlt-1 and GFP expression was observed only in the HepG2 cells transfected with sFlt-1 or GFP/polyMDN-HBs. None of the side effects mentioned above was observed. In conclusion, these results suggest that polyMDN-HBs is a human hepatocyte-specific gene delivery vector that might not have serious side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naokazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jinno
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitajima
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D002412:Cations; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009929:Organ Size; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D010957:Plasmids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D019163:Reducing Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D008689:Methacrylates; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D019163:Reducing Agents; C115766:poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl-phosphorylcholine); D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C501163:Flt1 protein, mouse; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; C049840:2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate