PERIFOLLICULAR TRANSGENIC EXPRESSION OF HUMAN INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST PROTEIN FOLLOWING TOPICAL APPLICATION OF NOVEL LIPOSOME-PLASMID DNA FORMULATIONS IN-VIVO

Expression plasmid DNA for the human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) protein was formulated with nonionic:cationic (NC) liposomes or phosphatidylcholine:cationic (PC) liposomes and applied to the aur icular skin of hamsters in single- and multiple-dose protocols. Confoc al microscopy identified delivery of plasmid DNA proximal to perifolli cular cells, and successful transfection of perifollicular cells was i dentified by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Skin treated for 3 days w ith the NC liposomes had statistically significant levels of transgeni c IL-1ra present for 5 days post-treatment. Expression of transgenic I L-1ra was specific to areas of skin treated with NC liposomes but not PC liposomes. The results indicate that the NC liposomes can deliver e xpression plasmid DNA to perifollicular cells and mediate transient tr ansfection in vivo.