Abstract
The human γ-interferon (HuIFN-γ) gene inserted in a eukaryotic expression vector, pSVIFN-γ, was entrapped in liposomes having positive charges on their surface. Liposome-mediated transfection of cultured U251-MG glioma cells with the gene resulted in secretion of HuINF-γ into the medium and growth inhibition of the glioma cells. The growth-inhibitory effect was even more potent than that obtained in the previous experiments with human β-interferon (HuIFN-β) gene inserted in a eukaryotic expression vector, pSV2IFN-β. However, when the cells were transfected with both pSVIFN-γ and pSV2IFN-β simultaneously, the cells disappeared completely, indicating that the effect became cytocidal.
