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  • Biotechnical Methods Section BTS
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Bio-Technical Methods Section

RNA-based gene transfer for adult stem cells and T cells

Leukemia volume 18, pages 1898–1902 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Electroporation of mRNA has become an established method for gene transfer into dendritic cells for immunotherapeutic purposes. However, many more cell types and applications might benefit from an efficient mRNA-based gene transfer method. In this study, we investigated the potential of mRNA-based gene transfer to induce short-term transgene expression in adult stem cells and activated T cells, based on electroporation with mRNA encoding the enhanced green fluorescent protein. The results show efficient transgene expression in CD34-positive hematopoietic progenitor cells (35%), in in vitro cultured mesenchymal cells (90%) and in PHA-stimulated T cells (50%). Next to presentation of gene transfer results, potential applications of mRNA-based gene transfer in stem cells and T cells are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grant No. G.0313.01 of the Fund for Scientific Research – Flanders, Belgium (FWO-Vlaanderen), by a grant of the Scientific Committee of the Fortis Bank (FB) Verzekeringen-financed Cancer Research and by a grant of the Belgian Federation against Cancer (BFK). We also acknowledge support from Grant No. 7.0004.03 (Levenslijn) of the FWO-Vlaanderen. VFIVT is a postdoctoral fellow of the FWO-Vlaanderen.

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  1. E Smits and P Ponsaerts: Both authors contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium

    E Smits, P Ponsaerts, M Lenjou, G Nijs, D R Van Bockstaele, Z N Berneman & V F I Van Tendeloo

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  1. E Smits
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  2. P Ponsaerts
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  3. M Lenjou
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  4. G Nijs
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  5. D R Van Bockstaele
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  6. Z N Berneman
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  7. V F I Van Tendeloo
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Correspondence to P Ponsaerts.

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Smits, E., Ponsaerts, P., Lenjou, M. et al. RNA-based gene transfer for adult stem cells and T cells. Leukemia 18, 1898–1902 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403463

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