Targeted Delivery of Salusin-α Into Rabbit Carotid Arterial Endothelium Using SonoVue

A new method based on the adhesion of SonoVue to plasmids was assessed to achieve targeted gene delivery into the vascular endothelium.

pEGFP-Salusin-α and pcDNA3.1-Salusin-α plasmids were transfected into the arterial endothelium of different rabbit groups. Western blotting was performed to analyze the expression of EGFP and salusin-α in the common carotid arteries of rabbits from different groups, and ELISA was performed to detect plasma salusin-α levels in rabbits from each group; simultaneously, blood parameters of different groups of rabbits were measured.

Green fluorescence was observed in the right common carotid artery of rabbits transfected with pEGFP-Salusin-α, but not in the endothelial cells of not-transfected control rabbits. The expression of salusin-α in the transfected animals was higher than that in the control not-transfected animals (P < .05). In rabbits transfected with pcDNA3.1-Salusin-α plasmid, salusin-α expression was higher than in the not-transfected control animals (P < .05). However, there was no significant difference in plasma salusin-α levels between transfected animals and controls (P > .05). Blood parameters were also measured in both groups.

Our data confirm the establishment of a new method using SonoVue for targeted gene delivery into the arterial endothelium. Our study outcomes propose a new method of intervention in atherosclerosis and a new tool for targeted gene delivery.