IMMUNOSTAINING OF HUMAN AMNIOTIC EPITHELIAL-CELLS - POSSIBLE USE AS ATRANSGENE CARRIER IN GENE-THERAPY FOR INBORN-ERRORS OF METABOLISM

Immunoreactivity of human cultured amniotic epithelial (AE) cells was investigated to evaluate the possible use of these cells as a transgen e carrier in gene therapy for inborn errors of metabolism. AE cells we re prepared and cultured by the methods described previously. Flow cyt ometry analysis revealed that these cells did not express any class II antigen at all on their surfaces. But the class I antigen was slightl y expressed on their surfaces. Immunoperoxidase staining was slightly positive as to the class I antigen but not to the class II antigen at all. pSV-beta-galactosidase was transfected into AE cells by means of electroporation, followed by staining of the cells with X-gal. Several cells in 60 mm dish expressed beta-galactosidase activity. The possib le gene transfer of beta-galactosidase into cultured AE cells may sugg est that these cells could be used as a transgene carrier in gene ther apy for inborn errors of metabolism.