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Direct electrotransfer of hHGF gene into kidney ameliorates ischemic acute renal failure

Gene Therapy volume 12, pages 1551–1558 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

In the early phase of kidney transplantation, the transplanted kidney is exposed to insults like ischemia/reperfusion, which is a leading cause of acute renal failure (ARF). ARF in the context of renal transplantation predisposes the graft to developing chronic damage and to long-term graft loss. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been suggested to support the intrinsic ability of the kidney to regenerate in response to injury by its morphogenic, mitogenic, motogenic and antiapoptotic activities. In the present paper, we examine whether human HGF (hHGF) gene electrotransfer helps in the recovery from ARF in a model of rat renal warm ischemia. We also assess the advantages of this form of gene therapy by direct electroporation of the kidney, given that transplantation offers the possibility of manipulating the organ in vivo. We have compared the therapeutic efficiency of two electroporation methodologies in a rat ARF model. Although they both targeted the same organ, the two methods were applied to different parts of the animal: muscle and kidney. Kidney direct electrotransfer was shown to be more efficient not only in pharmacokinetic but also in therapeutic terms, so it may become a clinically practical alternative in renal transplantation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III/FIS (PI01/3071, PI03/0082, FIS 01/0097-01), Sociedad Española de Nefrologia 2002 and Fundació Marató TV3 00/4030. Marcel·la Franquesa, Gabriela Alperovich and Núria lloberas are in receipt of fellowships from IDIBELL Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge (HUB), Fundació Catalana de Transplant and Red de Transplantes, respectively. Immaculada Herrero-Fresneda and Inés Rama are researchers from ISCIII/FIS. We also thank Supratek Pharma Inc. (Laval, QC, Canada) for providing us the SP1017 carrier.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Experimental Nephrology, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain

    M Franquesa, G Alperovich, I Herrero-Fresneda, N Lloberas, N Bolaños, I Rama, J M Cruzado, J M Grinyó & J Torras

  2. Genes and Disease Program, Centre de Regulació Genòmica (CRG), Barcelona, Spain

    C Fillat

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  1. M Franquesa
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Franquesa, M., Alperovich, G., Herrero-Fresneda, I. et al. Direct electrotransfer of hHGF gene into kidney ameliorates ischemic acute renal failure. Gene Ther 12, 1551–1558 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3302569

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