ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the feasibility and infection efficiency of MSCs as the target cells of gene delivery mediated by adenoviral vector carrying CTLA4Ig gene, and to study the mechanism of transgenic MSC to inhibit immune response ex vivo. METHODS: The recombinant adenovirus containing CTLA4Ig gene was constructed, by which rat MSCs with various multiplicity of infection (MOI) were conducted. The infection efficiency was analyzed with FACS and fluorescence microscope. The expression of CTLA4Ig protein in transgenic MSCs was detected by FACS and western blot. Co-culturing the transgenic MSCs with mixed lymphocytes, the inhibitory effect of transgenic MSCs on lymphocyte proliferation was also observed. RESULTS: The adenoviral vector delivered CTLA4Ig gene with high efficiency to MSCs. The expression of CTLA4Ig protein was detected in transgenic MSCs. The gene modified MSCs inhibited the proliferation of mixed lymphocytes and maximal inhibition rate was observed on day 4 of MLR. The inhibition induced by CTLA4Ig was donor-specific. CONCLUSION: MSCs is a promising target cell for gene delivery. The expressed CTLA4Ig specifically inhibits the lymphocyte proliferation ex vivo.