title: Membrane fusion inducers, chloroquine and spermidine increase lipoplex-mediated gene transfection.
abstract: Gene transfection into mammalian cells can be achieved with viral and non-viral vectors. Non-viral vectors, such as cationic lipids that form lipoplexes with DNA, are safer and more stable than viral vectors, but their transfection efficiencies are lower. Here we describe that the simultaneous treatment with a membrane fusion inducer (chlorpromazine or procainamide) plus the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine increases lipoplex-mediated gene transfection in human (HEK293 and C-33 A) and rat (PC12) cell lines (up to 9.2-fold), as well as in situ in BALB/c mice spleens and livers (up to 6-fold); and that the polyamine spermidine increases lipoplex-mediated gene transfection and expression in cell cultures. The use of these four drugs provides a novel, safe and relatively inexpensive way to considerably increase lipoplex-mediated gene transfection efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City 11340, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wong-Baeza
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bustos
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serna
authors.forename: Alonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tescucano
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alcántara-Farfán
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montañez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baeza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D013095:Spermidine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D002738:Chloroquine; D013095:Spermidine