Sodium phosphate enhances plasmid DNA expression in vivo

Intramuscular injection of plasmid DNA results in myofiber cell expression of proteins encoded by the DNA. The preferred vehicle for plasmid DNA injec tions has been saline (154 mM sodium chloride) or PBS (154 mM NaCl plus 10 mM sodium phosphate). Here, it is shown that injection of luciferase or p-g alactosidase encoding plasmid DNA in a 150 mM sodium phosphate vehicle into murine muscle resulted in a two- to seven-fold increase in transgene expre ssion compared with DNA injected in saline or PBS. When the DNA encoded sec reted alkaline phosphatase, preproinsulin or interferon, sodium phosphate v ehicle increased their serum levels by two- to four-fold. When the DNA enco ded mouse erythropoietin, sodium phosphate vehicle increased hematocrits by two-fold compared with DNA injected in saline. When the DNA encoded influe nza nucleoprotein, sodium phosphate increased anti-nucleoprotein antibody t iters by two-fold. The expression of luciferase from plasmid DNA instilled into lung was increased five-fold compared with that in vehicle without sod ium phosphate. Incubation of plasmid DNA with muscle extract or serum showe d that sodium phosphate protected the DNA from degradation. Thus, a change from sodium chloride to sodium phosphate vehicle can enhance the expression of plasmid DNA in a tissue, possibly by inhibiting DNA degradation.