In Vivo HYJ-Liposome Mediated gene Transfer into Adult Rat Liver

Tadamichi Hirano, Jiro Fujimoto, Hidenao Yamamoto, Takahiro Ueki, K. Wang, Eizo Okamoto

First Department of Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine

We examined a simple and highly efficient in vivo method of gene transfer into rat hepatocytes using Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan (HVJ) and nuclear protein. The E. coli β-galactosidase (β-gal) gene was encapsulated in liposomes and incubated with HVJ to form vesicle complexes. These vesicle complexes were introduced into the rat liver portal injection. These injection methods were also performed on rats which had undergone partial hepatectomy 24 hrs prior to the injection. In the rats which received portal injection, 31.9±11.5% of the hepatocytes were stained with X-gal. This expression was bardly detectable 28 days after injection. However, in the partially hepatectomyzed rats, more than 20% of hepatocytes expressed β-gal protein 28 days after injection. The transcription of β-gal m-RNA was comfirmed by RT-PCR. We conclude that this gene transfer method is efficient and would facilitate the development of genetic treatments for various liver diseases.

Key words
HVJ-liposome, in vivo transfection, liver

Reprint requests
Tadamichi Hirano First Department of Surgery, Hoogo College of Medicine
1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya-city, 663 JAPAN

Accepted
December 11, 1996

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