Gene transfection efficiency of tracheal epithelial cells by DC-Chol-DOPE/DNA complexes

We evaluated the transfection efficiency of five different cationic liposom e/plasmid DNA complexes, during the in vitro gene transfer into human epith elial tracheal cell lines. A dramatic correlation between the transfection efficiency and the charge ratio (positive charge of liposome to negative ch arge of DNA) has been found. DC-Chol-DOPE was found to be the most effectiv e liposome formulation. Therefore, a morphological and structural analysis of DC-Chol-DOPE liposomes and DC-Chol-DOPE/DNA complexes, has been performe d by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), respectively. The process of interaction between DC-Chol -DOPE/DNA complexes and human epithelial tracheal cells has been studied by CLSM. These results raise some issues for in vivo gene therapy. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.