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Transfection Of Human Macrophages By Lipoplexes Via The Combined Use Of Transferrin And Ph-Sensitive Peptides, Sérgio Simões, Vladimir Slepushkin, Elizabeth Pretzer, Paul Dazin, Rogério Gaspar, Maria C. Pedroso De Lima, Nejat Düzgüneş

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

The crucial function of macrophages in a variety of biological processes and pathologies render these cells important targets for gene therapeutic interventions. Commonly used synthetic gene delivery vectors have not been successful in transfecting these non-dividing cells. A combination strategy involving cationic liposomes to condense and carry DNA, transferrin to facilitate cellular uptake, and the pH-sensitive peptide GALA to promote endosome destabilization, resulted in significant expression of a luciferase gene. Transfection of macrophages was dependent on the degree of differentiation of the cells. The quaternary complexes of cationic liposomes, DNA, transferrin, and GALA exhibited a net negative charge, which may …