Eliminating bacteria backbone of naked DNA enhanced hFIX expression and reduced inflammatory response in mice.
To test the hypothesis that the persistent high level of transgene expression of linear DNA eliminating bacterial backbone (LDEBB) results from less cytokine induction in vivo. We systematically investigated the effect of circular DNA (C DNA), linear DNA (L DNA) and LDEBB on gene expression in mice by hydrodynamics-based plasmid administration, and then determined serum cytokine levels in mice by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of human clotting factor IX (hFIX) gene in mice treated with LDEBB, L DNA or C DNA reached a maximum 1-day after injection (9809, 6447, 2368 ng/mL), respectively. Thirty days after injection, hFIX concentrations dropped to baseline in mice treated with C DNA group, while L DNA group and LDEBB group decreased to 207 and 377 ng/mL, respectively, at the same time-point. Mice receiving LDEBB encoding hFIX expressed approximately 1.5 to 20-fold more serum hFIX than mice injected with L DNA and C DNA for a period of 8 months, respectively. However, mice receiving LDEBB are much less inflammatory than L DNA and C DNA as shown by a 4-fold reduction in serum levels of both TNF-alpha and IL-12. These results demonstrate that LDEBB is not silenced and is capable of expressing persistently high levels of transgene in vivo, which result from less cytokine induction in vivo. LDEBB provides a promising approach and useful therapeutic strategy to improve naked DNA delivery.
Zhu
Huan-Zhang
HZ
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Chen
Hong-Yan
HY
Feng
Deng-Min
DM
Shen
Qi
Q
Xue
Jing-Lun
JL
Jia
William
W
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005164:Factor IX / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D019076:Transgenes
D016207:Cytokines; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004270:DNA, Circular; D005164:Factor IX; D004247:DNA