Efficient Gene Transfer to EGF Receptor Overexpressing Cancer Cells by Means of EGF-Labeled Cationic Liposomes

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 1996-10, Vol.227 (3), p.666-671
• Main Authors: Kikuchi, Akira, Sugaya, Susumu, Ueda, Hiroyuki, Tanaka, Kenichi, Aramaki, Yukihiko, Hara, Toshifumi, Arima, Hidetoshi, Tsuchiya, Seishi, Fuwa, Toru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; Cations; Cholesterol - analogs & derivatives; Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Gene Transfer Techniques; Humans; Liposomes; Phosphatidylethanolamines; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - genetics; Tumor Cells, Cultured
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1996.1566

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-labeled cationic liposomes (EGF-liposomes) were prepared for efficient gene transfer vector to EGF receptor expressing cells. Transfection activity of EGF-liposomes associating plasmid PGV-C which encodes luciferase showed a 2-fold increase in EGF receptor expressing cells, HEC-1-A, compared to that of EGF-non-labeled liposomes (N-liposomes). In EGF receptor deficient HRA cells, however, both EGF- and N-liposomes exhibited low transfection efficiency and no difference was observed between them. Furthermore, by the addition of anti EGF receptor antibody, transfection efficiency of EGF-liposomes was suppressed, suggesting EGF receptor-mediated endocytosis of EGF-liposomes. Transfection activity of EGF-liposomes was strongly dependent on the concentrations of fusogenic lipid, dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine in liposomes. By X-gal staining 6–8 % of GCH-1(m) cells which also had EGF receptor expressed β-galactosidase activity following the transfection by EGF-liposomes associating pSV-β-galactosidase. These findings indicate that EGF-liposomes could be a preferable vector for EGF-receptor expressing cells.