Comparative transfection of DNA into primary and transformed mammalian cells from different lineages

Authors:
Maurisse R, De Semir D, Emamekhoo H, Bedayat B, Abdolmohammadi A, Parsi H, Gruenert DC
In:
Source: BMC Biotechnol
Publication Date: (2010)
Issue: 10(9): n/a
Experiment
In the electroporation (nucleofection) experiments, 1 - 2 Ü? 106 cells were resuspended in 100 μl of transfection buffer (Table 1). The pmaxGFP plasmid (AMAXA Biosystems, Gaithersburg, MD) that contains an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene under regulation of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer/promoter element and is kanamycin resistant, was then added (2 μg/ transfection sample) to the cell suspension. The cell/ DNA mixtures, in 1 cm transfection cuvettes, were nucleoporated according to a specific predefined program. Following the electroporation, the cells were incubated in their respective culture medium pre-heated to 37°C for 10 min, and then seeded into cell type-specific growth medium. Unless otherwise indicated all nucleofection experiments were carried out in triplicate using 3 separate dishes for each point. The MESCs were separated from the SNL feeder cells by short-term (30 min) plating of the trypsinized mixed cell population in Petri dishes not coated with gelatin. The SNL fibroblasts preferentially adhere and the MESCs are readily harvested for nucleofection. See Table 1 for lots of different cell types used in paper.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The delivery of DNA into human cells has been the basis of advances in the understanding of gene function and the development of genetic therapies. Numerous chemical and physical approaches have been used to deliver the DNA, but their efficacy has been variable and is highly dependent on the cell type to be transfected. RESULTS: Studies were undertaken to evaluate and compare the transfection efficacy of several chemical reagents to that of the electroporation/nucleofection system using both adherent cells (primary and transformed airway epithelial cells and primary fibroblasts as well as embryonic stem cells) and cells in suspension (primary hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and lymphoblasts). With the exception of HEK 293 cell transfection, nucleofection proved to be less toxic and more efficient at effectively delivering DNA into the cells as determined by cell proliferation and GFP expression, respectively. Lipofectamine and nucleofection of HEK 293 were essentially equivalent in terms of toxicity and efficiency. Transient transfection efficiency in all the cell systems ranged from 40%-90%, with minimal toxicity and no apparent species specificity. Differences in efficiency and toxicity were cell type/system specific. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the Amaxa electroporation/nucleofection system appears superior to other chemical systems. However, there are cell-type and species specific differences that need to be evaluated empirically to optimize the conditions for transfection efficiency and cell survival.