LIPOSOMAL TRANSFECTION EFFICIENCY AND TOXICITY ON GLIOMA CELL-LINES -IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO STUDIES

To evaluate the influence of cell type and cationic liposomal formulat ion on gene transfection efficiency three liposomes (lipofectin, lipof ectamine and DOTAP) were used to transfect the human (A172 and MOG-G-C CM) and rodent (C6 and A15A5) glioma cell lines with the Lac Z gene. P arallel studies evaluated in vitro cytotoxicity and the neuropathologi cal changes following intracerebral injection. The transfection effici ency and cytotoxicity of the liposomes varied both quantitatively and qualitatively between the cell lines. There were no behavioural distur bances following intrastriatal or hippocampal injection and the neurop athological changes at the injection sites were focal and similar for all liposomes. The influence of glial cell lineage on both liposomal t ransfection facility and cytotoxicity may have important implications for in vivo gene transfection in the central nervous system. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.