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In vivo transfer of plasmid from food-grade transiting lactococci to murine epithelial cells

Gene Therapy volume 15, pages 1184–1190 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

We recently demonstrated that noninvasive food-grade Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) can deliver eukaryotic expression plasmid in mammalian cells in vitro. Here, we evaluated, in vivo, whether a eukaryotic expression plasmid carried by lactococci can translocate to the epithelial cells of the intestinal membrane. The strain LL(pLIG:BLG1) carrying one plasmid containing a eukaryotic expression cassette encoding β-lactoglobulin (BLG), a major allergen of cow's milk, was orally administered by gavage to mice. BLG cDNA was detected in the epithelial membrane of the small intestine of 40% of the mice and BLG was produced in 53% of the mice. Oral administration of LL(pLIG:BLG1) induced a low and transitory Th1-type immune response counteracting a Th2 response in case of further sensitization. We demonstrated for the first time the transfer of a functional plasmid to the epithelial membrane of the small intestine in mice by noninvasive food-grade lactococci.

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Abbreviations

LL:

Lactococcus lactis MG1363

PBS:

phosphate buffer saline

EIA:

enzyme immuno assay

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Acknowledgements

We thank Luis Bermudez Humaran for technical assistance.

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Author notes

  1. J-M Chatel

    Present address: 4Current address: INRA-UEPSD, Domaine de Vilvert, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Institut de Biologie et Technologies de Saclay (iBiTecS), Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunologie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

    J-M Chatel, L Pothelune, S Ah-Leung & J-M Wal

  2. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Unité d'Immuno-Allergie Alimentaire, Domaine de Vilvert, Jouy en Josas cedex, France

    J-M Chatel, L Pothelune, S Ah-Leung & J-M Wal

  3. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Unité d'Ecologie et Physiologie du Système Digestif, Domaine de Vilvert, Jouy en Josas cedex, France

    G Corthier & P Langella

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Correspondence to J-M Chatel.

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Chatel, JM., Pothelune, L., Ah-Leung, S. et al. In vivo transfer of plasmid from food-grade transiting lactococci to murine epithelial cells. Gene Ther 15, 1184–1190 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/gt.2008.59

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/gt.2008.59

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