title: Polycation-mediated enhancement of retroviral transduction efficiency depends on target cell types and pseudotyped Env proteins: implication for gene transfer into neural stem cells.
abstract: Polycations such as polybrene (PB) are routinely used for most retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer studies because they can increase the infectivity of retroviruses. However, it was not systematically determined if addition of the polycation is an essential prerequisite for all retroviral transductions. To test this, we measured the effects of the polycation on transduction efficiency using various combinations of target cells and pseudotyped viral envelope (Env) proteins. Here, we show polycations do not always increase retroviral transduction efficiency and that their enhancing effect depends on both the type of target cells and Env proteins. The findings presented here also suggest that high transduction rates can be achieved in primary neural stem cells in vitro and in vivo by choosing an appropriate Env protein for pseudotyping without using polycations which are potentially toxic to primary cells and may change the intrinsic characteristics of cells.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jiwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Junsup
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seong-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki-Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Youl
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Dae-Hyuk
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.forename: Suk-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Sunyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Keejung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D016923:Cell Death; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000378:metabolism*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D015686:Gene Products, env; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes