Gene transfer in primary cultures of human hepatocytes

Using liposomes as the mediator of DNA transfer, we were successful in the transfection of human hepatocytes isolated from surgical samples with an E. coli beta-galactosidase gene (beta-gal). A comparison of transfection efficiency showed that of the four promoters used, cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter yielded higher transfection efficiencies than Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), Simian virus-40 (SV-40) and human alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) promoters. These studies represent the first report on the successful transfection of primary cultures of human hepatocytes.