Transient transfection of mammary epithelial cells with a PEI/DNA/adenovirus system

Studies on epithelial cells often require the transient expression of exoge nous proteins in polarized epithelial cells. However, the major limitation of this approach has been the difficulty of obtaining transient gene expres sion in polarized epithelial cell cultures. We report here on the applicati on of a polyethylenimine (PEI)/DNA/adenovirus system for efficient transien t gene expression in mammary epithelial cells. Based on luciferase assay an d FACScan analysis the PEI/DNA/adenovirus system is shown to be an effectiv e and simple method for transfecting epithelial cells.