Enhanced gene transfection in macrophages by histidine-conjugated mannosylated cationic liposomes

Targeted gene delivery to macrophages is important for the treatments of various immune diseases. Since macrophages express mannose receptors, development of efficient mannosylated non-viral carriers is an effective approach to macrophages-selective in vivo gene transfection. In this study, a pH-sensitive mannosylated cholesterol derivative, Man-His-C4-Chol, which possesses histidine (His) residues, containing lipoplexes (Man-His-lipoplexes) was characterized for transfection both in vitro and in vivo. In primary cultured macrophages, both Man-His-lipoplexes and mannosylated (Man)-lipoplexes showed significantly higher cellular uptake than bare-lipoplexes and there was no significant difference between Man-His-lipoplexes and Man-lipoplexes at 37 degrees C but the cellular uptake of these three lipoplexes was reduced at 4 degrees C. Similarly, the transfection efficacy of Man-His-lipoplexes showed significantly higher gene expression than bare-lipoplexes and Man-lipoplexes. After intraperitoneal administration to mice, Man-His-lipoplexes showed higher gene expression in peritoneally exuded cells (PECs) which contained macrophages than Man-lipoplexes and bare-lipoplexes at 3, 6, and 24 h. In addition, Man-His-lipoplexes showed higher gene expression than Gal-His-lipoplexes in PECs, suggesting that Man-His-lipoplexes are taken up by macrophages via mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis. These results suggest that Man-His-lipoplexes have superior transfection activity to Man-lipoplexes in macrophages.