title: Gene transfer into canine myoblasts.
abstract: We have developed and characterized cultures of healthy and dystrophic canine myoblasts for the evaluation of various gene transfer protocols. The number of desmin-positive myoblasts was elevated (>>80%) in cultures of myoblasts obtained from different muscle territories, the diaphragm muscle giving rise to the purest cultures. Myoblasts from dogs turned out to be a very convenient source of well transfectable and transducible cells. Transfection with plasmid DNA allowed efficient transgene expression (50% of beta-galactosidase positive cells and about 375 ng luciferase/mg protein after transfection with a calcium phosphate-precipitated plasmid). Infection with high concentrations of adenoviral and retroviral vectors allowed transgene (beta-galactosidase or mini-dystrophin) detection in about 75 to 90% of the canine cells. Therefore, primary dog myoblast cultures represent a useful in vitro model for viral and non-viral gene delivery, as well as for functional evaluation and cell grafting with applications in genetic diseases, vaccination or production of circulating therapeutic proteins.
authors.affiliation: TRANSGENE S.A., 11 rue de Molsheim, 67082, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thioudellet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perraud
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Escriou
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Claudepierre
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Homann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lusky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehtali
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavirani