Gene transfer in skeletal muscle by systemic injection of DODAC lipopolyplexes

Lipid-based vectors are a premising tool for gene therapy applications. Sev eral studies have reported their use in vivo to transfect different organs. Few data, however, are available about lipid-mediated gene transfer in ske letal muscle. Here we report the initial results obtained after systemic ad ministration of lipopolyplexes based on the DODAC cationic lipid in an anim al model of muscle regeneration. In particular, we compared three routes of administration: intravenous (IV), intracardiac (IC) and intra-arterial (IA ). Analysis of reporter gene expression (luciferase) showed that regenerati ng muscle is more efficiently transfected in all cases and that IA injectio n is by far the best approach.