Chitosan as a carrier for non-viral gene transfer in a cystic-fibrosis cell line.
The gene transfer mediated by chitosan in CFBE41o(-) (a cystic-fibrosis bronchial epithelial cell line) and HEK (a human embryonic kidney cell line) has been evaluated. Polyplexes based on chitosan and PEI (polyethyleneimine) using a luciferase and enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter plasmid showed that the transfection efficacy of polyplexes in the CFBE41o(-) cell line was poor compared with that in HEK cells. In the highly differentiated cystic-fibrosis bronchial epithelial cell line the narrow-size-distributed chitosan shows enhanced transfection at a low pH compared with PEI. The enhanced transfection at lower pH could be a result of damage to the cell surface or changes in the cell-surface charge, leading to better penetration of the cell membrane.
Nydert
Per
P
Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. per.nydert@apoteket.se
Dragomir
Anca
A
Hjelte
Lena
L
D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D048271:Chitosan; D008156:Luciferases