Korean J Anat.  2003 Oct;36(5):381-387.

The Efficient Gene Delivery into Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using Retroviral Vectors

• Kim SS
• Kim BJ
• Kim HS

Abstract

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into several mesenchymal lineage cells. In this study, we established an efficient method for gene delivery into these cells. Non-viral transfection reagents that were commercially available yielded 5% efficiency. In contrast, a retroviral vector yielded more than 46% transduction, which was further increased to 90% by repetitive infection. Retroviral transduction did not alter the multipotency of hMSCs. Thus, the cells retained the potential to differentiate into adipogenic, chondrogenic, or osteogenic lineages. The conditions established in this study will contribute to development of trans-differentiation methods of hMSCs into non-mesodermal lineage cells and thereby facilitate their possible use as vehicles for autologous transplantation in both cell and gene therapy for various diseases.

Keyword

Mesenchymal stem cells; Gene therapy; Retrovirus; Transfection

MeSH Terms

Autografts
Genetic Therapy
Humans*
Indicators and Reagents
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells*
Multipotent Stem Cells
Retroviridae
Transfection
Transplantation, Autologous
Zidovudine*
Indicators and Reagents
Zidovudine