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. 1994 Feb;93(2):652–661. doi: 10.1172/JCI117017

Increased gene expression after liposome-mediated arterial gene transfer associated with intimal smooth muscle cell proliferation. In vitro and in vivo findings in a rabbit model of vascular injury.

S Takeshita 1, D Gal 1, G Leclerc 1, J G Pickering 1, R Riessen 1, L Weir 1, J M Isner 1
PMCID: PMC293891  PMID: 8113401

Abstract

Arterial gene transfer represents a novel strategy that is potentially applicable to a variety of cardiovascular disorders. Attempts to perform arterial gene transfer using nonviral vectors have been compromised by a low transfection efficiency. We investigated the hypothesis that cellular proliferation induced by arterial injury could augment gene expression after liposome-mediated gene transfer. Nondenuded and denuded rabbit arterial strips were maintained in culture for up to 21 d, after which transfection was performed with a mixture of the plasmid encoding firefly luciferase and cationic liposomes. In non-denuded arteries, the culture interval before transfection did not affect the gene expression. In contrast, denuded arteries cultured for 3-14 d before transfection yielded 7-13-fold higher expression (vs. day 0; P < 0.005). Transfection was then performed percutaneously to the iliac arteries of live rabbits with or without antecedent angioplasty. Gene expression increased when transfection was performed 3-7 d postangioplasty (P < 0.05). Proliferative activity of neointimal cells assessed in vitro by [3H]thymidine incorporation, and in vivo by immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, increased and declined in parallel with gene expression. These findings thus indicate that the expression of liposome-mediated arterial gene transfer may be augmented in presence of ongoing cellular proliferation.

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