BRAIN-SPECIFIC GENE-EXPRESSION BY IMMORTALIZED MICROGLIAL CELL-MEDIATED GENE-TRANSFER IN THE MAMMALIAN BRAIN

The intra-arterial injection of immortalized microglia transfected wit h the lacZ gene, resulted in the expression of beta-galactosidase in t he rat brain at 48 h and the activity of beta-galactosidase was detect ed for up to 3 weeks post-injection. More than 30-fold higher activity of beta-galactosidase was detected in the brain than in the liver, lu ng or spleen at 48 h post-injection. This method allows us to easily d eliver the gene of interest to the brain without influencing other org ans. Our brain-targeting gene delivery system can facilitate gene ther apy of several brain disorders, including brain tumor, metabolic disor ders, and degenerative disorders, as well as investigation into the ro les of particular genes in brain function and development. (C) 1998 Fe deration of European Biochemical Societies.