Polyethyleneimine-mediated gene transfection in porcine fetal fibroblasts

Souza, Andressa Pereira deBastos, Ana PaulaFonseca, Francisco Noé daPandolfi, José RodrigoCostamilan, Carlos André da Veiga Lima RosaMarques, Mariana Groke

Polyethylenimine (PEI) has been explored as an efficient non-viral system for delivering genes to cells; however, there were no protocols for its use in porcine fetal fibroblasts (PFF). Therefore, we compared different concentrations of FITC-PEI (0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 µg/mL) and incubation times (30 min, 1 h, or 2 h). It was observed that the incubation time did not affect the internalization of the PEI-FITC and that 30 min was sufficient to capture the complex. The concentrations higher than 10 µg/mL could reach many marked PFF (>90%). Then, two PEI concentrations were tested, 10 or 40 µg/mL, combined with an N/P of 2 with the pmhyGENIE-5 for 30 min. The percentage of PFF-GFP positive was similar between the PEI concentrations in the evaluation time points (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h). However, 40 µg/mL caused higher membrane damage rates. Thus, it can be concluded that concentrations between 10 ­ 80 µg/ml of PEI promote high incorporation rates, even in periods as short as 30 minutes. Furthermore, it can be stated that the transfection condition used in Polyplexes 1 (10 µg/mL of PEI and 37.5 µg/mL of pmhyGENIE-5 for 30 min) efficiently produces genetically edited porcine fetal fibroblasts with low cell damage.(AU)

1. non-viral vectors
2. gene delivery
3. cationic polymer
4. primary fibroblast
5. nuclear transfer