Efficacy Of Cationic Liposomes As Carriers For Transporting Gene In Vivo

Objective: To estimate the effect of synthetic cationic liposomes as carriers fordelivering RNA and DNA in mice and their security in vivo.Methods:(1) Eight kinds of synthetic cationic liposomes were used to carryplasmid pGFP-N2into mice to express luciferase. The DNA transfecting effect wasevaluated by detecting luciferase protein expression in lungs and livers of mice byWestern Blotting.(2)Four kinds of synthetic cationic liposomes were used as carriersfor RNA interference (RNAi) of Apoplipoprotein B (ApoB) in mice. The RNAsilencing effect was evaluated by detecting ApoB mRNA expression by RT-PCR andApoB protein expression by Western Blotting in livers of mice.(3)The internal securityof the cationic liposomes used in this study was estimated by observing body weight,visceral changes and mortality during transfection.Results:(1) Expression of luciferase protein in livers and/or lungs was detectedwhen synthetic cationic liposome9,10,17,19,20,21,22and CD01were used as carriersfor DNA transfection in mice. It indicated that all the cationic liposomes used wereeffective for DNA transfection in vivo, and their effect was similar to Lipofectamine2000. As an accelerator, chitosan could help liposomes transport plasmid DNA to targetorgans and cells.(2) Using cationic liposome9,21,CTA,CPA as carriers for RNAitargeting ApoB, expression of ApoB mRNA and protein in livers decreased obviouslyonly when CTA and CPA were used. Chitosan could promote the efficacy of liposomesfor RNAi.(3) Tail vein injection of cationic liposomes complexed with gene couldimpact mice health status, but cationic liposomes showed lower toxicity compared withLipofectamine2000.Conclusion: The investigated cationic liposomes have effect of delivering DNAand RNA in vivo, and their toxicity is lower than Lipofectamine2000. Accordingly, it is worthy of further researching and applying.