RAPID TRANSGENE EXPRESSION IN LYMPHOCYTE AND MACROPHAGE PRIMARY CULTURES AFTER PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT-MEDIATED GENE-TRANSFER

A particle bombardment technique was used for gene transfer to human p eripheral blood mononuclear cells, and murine splenocytes, thymocytes and peritoneal macrophages in primary culture. Significant expression of a luciferase marker gene was observed in these cell types within 8 h of gene transfer. Luciferase expression was readily detected in peri toneal macrophages 4 h after culture initiation and transfection. Same day determinations of transgene activity in fresh human peripheral bl ood mononuclear cell samples were feasible. Promoter preference and ba llistic parameters were examined to optimize transgene expression. Up to 6% of bombarded human T lymphocytes expressed transgenic beta-galac tosidase activity. These results demonstrate that particle bombardment is an effective means for gene transfer and provides an attractive ap proach for rapid, quantitative analysis of transgene expression in var ious leukocyte primary culture systems.