Cationic liposomal lipids: from gene carriers to cell signaling.
Cationic lipids are positively charged amphiphilic molecules which, for most of them, form positively charged liposomes, sometimes in combination with a neutral helper lipid. Such liposomes are mainly used as efficient DNA, RNA or protein carriers for gene therapy or immunization trials. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in the understanding of the cellular pathways and mechanisms involved in lipoplex-mediated gene transfection but the interaction of cationic lipids with cell components and the consequences of such an interaction on cell physiology remains poorly described. The data reported in the present review provide evidence that cationic lipids are not just carriers for molecular delivery into cells but do modify cellular pathways and stimulate immune or anti-inflammatory responses. Considering the wide number of cationic lipids currently available and the variety of cellular components that could be involved, it is likely that only a few cationic lipid-dependent functions have been identified so far.
Lonez
Caroline
C
Laboratoire de Structure et Fonction des Membranes Biologiques, Centre de Biologie Structurale et de Bioinformatique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP 206/2, Campus Plaine, Boulevard du Triomphe, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Vandenbranden
Michel
M
Ruysschaert
Jean-Marie
JM
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D002412:Cations; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection
D002412:Cations; D008055:Lipids; D008081:Liposomes