Transgene expression in intervertebral disc cells in vivo mediated by microbubble-enhanced ultrasound gene therapy / 重庆医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the effect of ultrasound contrast agent on expression of plasmid in intervertebral disc of Sprague-Dawley rats.Methods:Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were studied.The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups.Two different reporter plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein(GFP) and firefly luciferase were used.Plasmid DNA was mixed with ultrasonography contrast agent(microbubbles) and injected into coccygeal intervertebral discs of Sprague-Dawley rats.The ultrasound was irradiated on the surface of injected discs.Rats were killed 7 days after gene transduction.Harvested nucleus pulposus tissues were used to evaluate gene expression.The intact discs were used as a control.Results:Significant luciferase activity was observed in group 4;less in the other groups and none in the control.Conclusion:Ultrasound with microbubble contrast agent induced efficient gene transfer to interverbetebral disc of rats after local injection of plasmid.