Ex vivo liposome-mediated gene transfer to lung isografts

Objective: Gene therapy is a promising strategy to modify ischemia- reperfusion injury and rejection after transplantation. We evaluated variables that may affect ex vivo gene transfer to rat lung isografts. Methods: Left lungs were harvested and perfused via the pulmonary vein with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase complementary deoxyribonucleic acid complexed with cationic liposomes. Several variables were examined: (1) Influence of temperature: In group I (n = 4), grafts were stored for 4 hours at 23°C and transplanted. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity was assessed on postoperative day 2. In groups II and III (n = 4), grafts were stored at 10°and 4°C, respectively. Arterial oxygen tension and inflammatory infiltrate were also determined. (2) Influence of storage time: Grafts were preserved at 10°C for 1, 2, 3, 4 (n = 4), and 10 hours (n = 5). Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity was assessed on postoperative day 2. (3) Rapidity and duration of transgene expression: Grafts were preserved at 10°C for 1 hour and then transplanted. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity was assessed 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours and 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after implantation. Results: Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression was apparently less in lungs transfected at 4°C than in those transfected at 10°and 23°C. Storage for 1 hour at 10°C was sufficient to yield significant expression. Increasing the exposure time to 10 hours did not increase toxicity. There were no differences in arterial oxygen tension between transfected and nontransfected lungs. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression was detected for at least 28 days. Conclusion: Ex vivo liposome-mediated transfection of lung isografts can be achieved after a short time of cold storage, with minimal toxicity.