Gene expression and antitumor effect following im electroporation delivery of human interferon alpha 2 gene.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the gene expression and antitumor effect following im electroporation delivery of human interferon alpha 2 (hIFN-alpha 2) gene. METHODS: The pcD2/hIFN-alpha 2 was injected into the middle of the quadriceps muscle of female BALB/c mice or the leukemia-bearing female BALB/c nude mice, and then electroporation was given to the injection site. Optimal electrical parameters and the efficiency of gene transfer was studied with hIFN-alpha 2 ELISA kit. The HL-60 tumor model in BALB/c nude mice was used to investigate therapeutic effects of im electroporation delivery of pcD2/hIFN-alpha 2. RESULTS: The optimal conditions for the electric pulses were as follows voltage at 200 V/cm; pulse duration at 40 ms per pulse; number of pulse at 6 pulses and frequency at 1 Hz. Under optimal conditions, the serum hIFN-alpha 2 levels in electroporation group (160 microg/L+/-31 microg/L) were 45-fold higher than those of nonelectroporation group (3.6 microg/L+/-1.6 microg/L, P<0.01). The growth of leukemia was inhibited more obviously and the survival time of the leukemia-bearing nude mice was prolonged after im electroporation delivery of pcD2/hIFN-alpha 2 100 microg or 200 microg. CONCLUSION: Electroporation was an efficient method for the delivery of plasmid DNA and im electroporation delivery of pcD2/hIFN-alpha 2 was effective in treating leukemia.