Gene transfer using liposome-complexed adenovirus seems to overcome limitations due to coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor-deficiency of cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo

Use of adenoviruses as vehicle for gene therapy requires that target cells express appropriate receptors such as coxsakievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR). We show here that CAR-deficiency in cancer cells, that limits adenoviral gene delivery, can be overcome by using adenovirus complexed with the liposome, Ad-PEGPE [1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(poly-ethylene glycol)-2000]. We first confirmed that CT-26 mouse colon cancer cells are deficient in CAR by RT-PCR, and then showed that CT-26 cells infected with Ad-GFP/PEGPE exhibited highly enhanced expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP), compared with those infected with Ad-GFP. GFP expression depends on the dose of liposome and adenovirus. Luciferase expression in livers treated with Ad-luc/PEGPE was about 1,000-fold less than those infected with Ad-luc. In a liver metastasis mouse tumor model developed by intrasplenic injection of CT-26 cells, luciferase expression following i.v. injection of Ad-luc/PEGPE was significantly higher in tumors than in adjacent non-neoplastic liver. Following systemic administration of Ad-GFP/PEGPE, GFP expression increased in tumors more than in adjacent liver while the reverse was true following administration of Ad-GFP. In the latter case, GFP expression was higher in liver than in tumors. This study demonstrates that systemic delivery of PEGPE-adenovirus complex is an effective tool of adenoviral delivery as it overcomes limitation due to CAR deficiency of target cells while reducing hepatic uptake and enhancing adenoviral gene expression in tumors.

Phenotype of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha(PPARalpha)deficient mice on mixed background fed high fat diet

Considerable controversy exists in determining the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha(PPARalpha) on obesity. Previous reports demonstrated that PPARalpha is a critical modulator of lipid homeostasis, but the overt, obese phenotypic characterization in the strain of PPAR deficient (PPARalpha-/-) mice is influenced by other factors, including diet and genetics. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the phenotypic characterization of PPARalpha-/- mice prior to the obesity-related study. In this study, we observed phenotype of PPARalpha-/- mice on mixed genetic background (C57BL/6Nx129/Sv) fed a high fat diet for 16 weeks. PPARalpha-/- mice, regardless of sex, raised body growth rate significantly comparing with wild type and showed male-specific fatty change in the liver. They were shown to lack hepatic induction of PPARalpha target genes encoding enzymes for fatty acid beta-oxidation.