GENE DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Gene delivery is the process of introducing foreign DNA into host cells

Viral Vectors
o Retrovirus
o Adenovirus

o Lentivirus

Retrovirus
o Retroviral vectors are able to infect only dividing cells.
o Due to preintegration complex of retroviruses they are not able to penetrate nuclear membrane. o In dividing cells nuclear membranes are broken down, so viral genome can enter and integrate into the chromosome . o Retroviruses are most often used vectors for cancer gene therapy.

Examples: HIV, MoMuLV, v-src, Rous sarcoma virus

Retroviral Gene Delivery

Lentivirus
o Lentiviruses are retroviruses that can infect both dividing and non dividing cells.

o Preintegration complex of lentiviruses can get through the intact membrane of the nucleus of the target cell.
o Able to infect non dividing or terminally differentiated cells like neurons, macrophages, hematopoietic stem cells, retinal photoreceptors, and muscle and liver cells.

o No immune response!!!!

Lentiviral Gene Delivery

Adenovirus
o Non-enveloped viruses containing a linear double stranded DNA genome. o Contain 12 antenna like fiber projections for virus attachment. o They can infect both dividing and non dividing cells. o Around 40 serotypes known and most producing respiratory infections in humans . o Subgroup C serotypes 2 or 5 are predominantly used as vectors.

Adenoviral Gene Delivery

Non Viral Vectors

o Here the foreign gene of interest is delivered into the host cell without the help of viruses

Biochemical Methods
o Receptor mediated gene delivery

o Calcium phosphate co-precipitation

o Lipid-Mediated Gene Delivery

Receptor Mediated Gene Delivery

Ligand-targeted polyplexes

Calcium Phosphate Co-precipitation

Calcium phosphate DNA Complex

Precipitate formation

Endocytosis

Lipid Mediated Gene Delivery

Physical Methods

MICROINJECTION

Electroporation
o When the electric field is applied, the ions move according to their charge. o Pores are formed across the cell membrane allowing DNA to enter.

o When the electric field is deactivated, the membrane heals.

Ultrasound Facilitated Gene Delivery

Gene Gun

Advantages and Disadvantages

Conclusion
The gene delivery systems are widely useful in different applications of biology. Continuous effort to improve currently available systems and to develop new methods of gene delivery is needed and could lead to safer and more efficient gene delivery.

References
o Rolland, A.P. From genes to gene medicines: recent advances in nonviral genedelivery. Crit. Rev. Ther. Drug Carrier Syst. 15, 143198 (1998).
o Fasbender, A., Zabner, J., Zeiher, B.G. & Welsh, M.J. A low rate of cell proliferation and reduced DNA uptake limit cationic lipid-mediated gene transfer to primary cultures of ciliated human airway epithelia. Gene Ther. 4, 1173 1180(1997).

o Matsui, H., Johnson, L.G., Randell, S.H. & Boucher, R.C. Loss of binding andentry of liposomeDNA complexes decreases transfection efficiency in differentiatedairway epithelial cells. J. Biol. Chem. 272, 11171126 (1997). o Anderson, W.F. Human gene therapy. Nature 392, 2530 (1998).

o Crystal, R.G. Transfer of genes to humans: early lessons and obstacles to success. Science 270, 404410 (1995).
o Tripathy, S.K., Black, H.B., Goldwasser, E. & Leiden, J.M. Immune responses to transgene-encoded proteins limit the stability of gene expression after injection of replication-defective adenovirus vectors. Nat. Med. 2, 545550 (1996).

o Wolff JA , Malone RW , Williams P , et al . Direct gene transfer into mouse muscle in vivo. Science . 1990 ; 247 : 1465 - 1468 .

o Heller LC , Ugen K , Heller R . Electroporation for targeted gene transfer. Expert Opin Drug Deliv . 2005 ; 2 :255 - 268
o Neumann E , Schaefer-Ridder M , Wang Y , Hofschneider PH . Gene transfer into mouse lyoma cells by electroporation in high electric elds. EMBO J . 1982 ; 1 : 841 - 845 . o Yang NS , Burkholder J , Roberts B , Martinell B , McCabe D . In vivo and in vitro gene transfer to mammalian somatic cells by particle bombardment. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA . 1990 ; 87 : 9568 - 9572 .

Presented by,

Devarapalli Pratap