EFFICIENCY OF IN-VIVO GENE TRANSFECTION INTO TRANSPLANTED RAT-HEART BY CORONARY INFUSION OF HVJ LIPOSOME

Background Current methods of in vivo gene transfer into myocardium ar e limited by low efficiency. To improve in vivo gene transfer, a gene transfer method using hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) as a viral vector can be an alternative. Methods and Results In vivo gene transf ection of FITC-labeled oligonucleotide (F-ODN) and cDNA of beta-galact osidase (beta-gal) was examined with use of the HVJ liposome (H group) or without it (C group). In the H group, F-ODN or cDNA of beta-gal we re complexed with liposomes, DNA binding nuclear protein (HMG1), and t he viral protein coat of HVJ. After the harvest of donor rat hearts ar rested by cardioplegia, the coronary artery was infused with the lipos ome gene complex. The hearts were transplanted into the abdomens of re cipient rats and harvested 3 days after transplantation. Regarding F-O DN, the H group clearly showed FITC staining in the nuclei of the myoc ytes and endothelial cells in almost all layers of the myocardium as c ompared with the C group. Regarding the expression of beta-gal, the H group showed a clear expression of beta-gal on myocytes, whereas very low expression of beta-gal was seen in the C group. Conclusions The do nor hearts were transfected with F-ODN and beta-gal gene in almost all layers of the myocardium as a result of coronary infusion of the HVJ liposome during cardioplegic arrest. Our method is seen as a novel in vivo gene transfer technique for the heart and may provide, a new tool for both research and therapy of heart transplantation.