Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) assisted delivery of shRNA against PHD2 into H9C2 cells

PLoS One. 2015 Aug 12;10(8):e0134629. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134629. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Gene therapy has great potential for human diseases. Development of efficient delivery systems is critical to its clinical translation. Recent studies have shown that microbubbles in combination with ultrasound (US) can be used to facilitate gene delivery. An aim of this study is to investigate whether the combination of US-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) and polyethylenimine (PEI) (UTMD/PEI) can mediate even greater gene transfection efficiency than UTMD alone and to optimize ultrasonic irradiation parameters. Another aim of this study is to investigate the biological effects of PHD2-shRNA after its transfection into H9C2 cells. pEGFP-N1 or eukaryotic shPHD2-EGFP plasmid was mixed with albumin-coated microbubbles and PEI to form complexes for transfection. After these were added into H9C2 cells, the cells were exposed to US with various sets of parameters. The cells were then harvested and analyzed for gene expression. UTMD/PEI was shown to be highly efficient in gene transfection. An US intensity of 1.5 W/cm2, a microbubble concentration of 300μl/ml, an exposure time of 45s, and a plasmid concentration of 15μg/ml were found to be optimal for transfection. UTMD/PEI-mediated PHD2-shRNA transfection in H9C2 cells significantly down regulated the expression of PHD2 and increased expression of HIF-1α and downstream angiogenesis factors VEGF, TGF-β and bFGF. UTMD/PEI, combined with albumin-coated microbubbles, warrants further investigation for therapeutic gene delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases / biosynthesis
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases / genetics*
  • Microbubbles
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Polyethyleneimine / administration & dosage
  • Polyethyleneimine / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Transfection
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
  • Ultrasonics

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • EGLN1 protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases

Grants and funding

Funding was received from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 81471678, 81271582, 81071280 to MXX; 81301235 to LZ) and by the National Natural Science Foundation of Hubei (Grant No. 2014CFB148 to LZ). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.