Gene transfection efficiency of tracheal epithelial cells by DC-chol-DOPE/DNA complexes.

A Colosimo, A Serafino, F Sangiuolo, S Di Sario, E Bruscia, P Amicucci, G Novelli, B Dallapiccola, G Mossa

Index: Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1419 , 186, (1999)

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Abstract

We evaluated the transfection efficiency of five different cationic liposome/plasmid DNA complexes, during the in vitro gene transfer into human epithelial tracheal cell lines. A dramatic correlation between the transfection efficiency and the charge ratio (positive charge of liposome to negative charge of DNA) has been found. DC-Chol-DOPE was found to be the most effective liposome formulation. Therefore, a morphological and structural analysis of DC-Chol-DOPE liposomes and DC-Chol-DOPE/DNA complexes, has been performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), respectively. The process of interaction between DC-Chol-DOPE/DNA complexes and human epithelial tracheal cells has been studied by CLSM. These results raise some issues for in vivo gene therapy.