Gene therapy using macrophage transplantation for spinal cord injury

2004 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 15591584
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: YAMAMOTO Haruyasu Ehime University, School of Medicines, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (10092446)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OGATA Tadanori Ehime University, School of Medicine, Instructor, 医学部, 助手 (30291503)
• Project Period (FY): 2003 – 2004
• Keywords: macrophage / electroporation / gene transfer / spinal cord injury / neurotrophic factor / green fluorescent protein

Research Abstract

Spinal cord injury is one of the most serious condition in the field of orthopedic surgery. Several pharmacological trials have been performed for the treatment of traumatic spinal cord injury. However, only high-dose steroid therapy was established for this condition. In the injured spinal cord, blood flow of neuronal tissue remarkably decreased. Therefore, when we add neuroprotective substances intravenously, only few substances will reach the injured tissue. To develop novel drug delivery system to ischemic tissue, we notice the tissue-migration activity of macrophages. In the rat, itraperitoneal macrophage were easily harvested. Using electroporation, a non-viral DNA transfection method, we added a vecter including green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the macrophage. Then the vector-incorporated autogenous macrophage was injected into subarachnoid space of the rat after the spinal cord injury. Injected macrophage were migrated and concentrated into the injured part of the spinal cord. Using this system, we transfer the target compound into the damaged neuronal tissue. This method maybe useful drug-delivery system for the spinal cord injury.