Injection of DNA into liposomes by bacteriophage lambda

Small unilamellar vesicles (75-100 nm diameter) and large liposomes (greater than 1 micron in diameter) were prepared containing the lamB protein, an outer membrane protein of Escherichia coli and Shigella which serves as the receptor for bacteriophage lambda. Bacteriophage were observed to bind to these liposomes and vesicles by their tails and in most cases the heads of the bound bacteriophage appeared empty or partially empty of DNA. The lambda DNA was usually only partially ejected from the bacteriophage head when small unilamellar liposomes were used, presumably because the vesicles are too small to contain all the DNA. The partially ejected DNA was not susceptible to DNase unless the vesicle bilayer was first disrupted suggesting that DNA injection of phage DNA into the vesicle had occurred. After disruption of these vesicles on electron microscope grids, the bacteriophage are seen to have partially empty heads and a small mass of DNA associated with their tails. Using larger liposomes prepared by the fusion of lamB bearing vesicles with polyethylene glycol and n-hexyl bromide, the heads of most of the bound bacteriophage appeared to be completely empty of DNA. Disruption of these preparations on electron microscope grids revealed circular arrays of empty-headed bacteriophage surrounding DNA which had apparently been contained within the intact liposomes. These results indicate that high molecular weight DNA can be entrapped within liposomes with high efficiency by ejection from bacteriophage lambda. The possible use of these DNA-containing liposomes to facilitate gene transfer in eukaryotic cells is discussed.     

Incorporation of some glycoconjugates into the membrane of liposomes and interaction of ganglioside-containing liposomes with rat hepatocytes in vitro

Inclusion of some glycosides, gangliosides and ceruloplasmin into large (300-400 nm in diameter) unilamellar liposomes was performed. About 100% of the gangliosides, 30-50% of ceruloplasmin and 3-5% of the glycosides were incorporated into the phospholipid vesicles under these conditions. The liposomes containing ceruloplasmin or gangliosides, in contrast to the glycoside-containing vesicles, were precipitated in the presence of agglutinin from Ricinus communis. The interaction of phospholipid vesicles containing gangliosides with rat hepatocytes "in vitro" was studied. It was found that the incorporation of gangliosides into the liposomal membrane increased the liposomal lipid uptake by 50% as can be judged from the uptake of radioactive cholesterol. Possible mechanisms of incorporation of carbohydrate-containing compounds into liposomes are discussed. It is concluded that beside the density of carbohydrates the degree of their exposure on the liposomal membrane is important for specific interactions of the vesicles with lectins.     

Vaccine entrapment in liposomes.

The use of liposomes as carriers of peptide, protein, and DNA vaccines requires simple, easy-to-scale-up technology capable of high-yield vaccine entrapment. Work from this laboratory has led to the development of techniques that can generate liposomes of various sizes, containing soluble antigens such as proteins and particulate antigens (e.g., killed or attenuated bacteria or viruses), as well as antigen-encoding DNA vaccines. Entrapment of vaccines is carried out by the dehydration-rehydration procedure which entails freeze-drying of a mixture of "empty" small unilamellar vesicles and free vaccines. On rehydration, the large multilamellar vesicles formed incorporate up to 90% or more of the vaccine used. When such liposomes are microfluidized in the presence of nonentrapped material, their size is reduced to about 100 nm in diameter, with much of the originally entrapped vaccine still associated with the vesicles. A similar technique applied for the entrapment of particulate antigens (e.g., Bacillus subtilis spores) consists of freeze-drying giant vesicles (4-5 microm in diameter) in the presence of spores. On rehydration and sucrose gradient fractionation of the suspension, up to 30% or more of the spores used are associated with generated giant liposomes of similar mean size.     

Covalent immobilization of unilamellar liposomes in gel beads for chromatography

For immobilized (proteo)liposome chromatography, unilamellar liposomes were covalently bound within gel beads that had been activated by CNBr, N-hydroxysuccinimide, tresyl, or chloroformate. Liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and 2 mol% of amino-containing lipid (phosphatidylethanolamine-caproylamine) were immobilized in the activated gels at 5-35 micromol lipid/ml gel and yields of 11-70%. The highest immobilized amount was found in chloroformate-activated TSK G6000PW gel, which contains large pore size (>100 nm). Liposomes composed of PC alone could also be attached to the chloroformate-activated gels at 33-42 micromol/ml gel and yields of 58-65%, probably by crosslinking of the phosphate moiety of phospholipid with the active group of the adsorbent. Liposomes prepared by various phospholipids with or without amino-containing lipids can generally be immobilized in the chloroformate-activated gels. The covalently bound liposomes were characterized by their high stability, unilamellarity, permeability of the membranes, and drug-membrane partition properties. A stable membrane phase was constructed for chromatographic experiments to be performed under extreme elution conditions.     

Liposomes with entrapped doxorubicin exhibit extended blood residence times

The blood residence time of liposomes with entrapped doxorubicin is shown to be significantly longer than for identically prepared empty liposomes. Liposomal doxorubicin systems with a drug-to-lipid ratio of 0.2 (w/w) were administered at a dose of 100 mg lipid/kg. Both doxorubicin and liposomal lipid were quantified in order to assess in vivo stability and blood residence times. For empty vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC)/cholesterol (55:45, mole ratio) and sized through filters of 100 nm pore size, 15-25% of the administered lipid dose was recovered in the blood 24 h after i.v. injection. The percentage of the dose retained in the circulation at 24 h increased 2-3-fold when the liposomes contain entrapped doxorubicin. For 100 nm distearoyl PC/chol liposomal doxorubicin systems, as much as 80% of the injected dose of lipid and drug remain within the blood compartment 24 h after i.v. administration.     

Oral application of insulin encapsulated liposomes

125Iodine labelled insulin encapsulated liposomes were introduced orally to rats. After different intervals of feeding, blood from the portal vein and heart was collected. The plasma was passed through a Sepharose 2B column to establish the presence of liposomes or intact hormone. Liposomal and hormonal fractions from the column loaded with plasma from the portal vain contained radioactivity. It was found that approx. 60% of the loaded radioactivity was associated with the liposomes whereas 20% of the loaded count was found with the hormonal fractions. It is noted that undegraded protein is not detected in portal plasma from rats fed with free insulin. When plasma from the heart of rats fed with liposomal insulin was passed through Sepharose 2B column, neither liposomes nor insulin was detected.     

Synergistic effect of polyethylenimine and cationic liposomes in nucleic acid delivery to human cancer cells

Polyethylenimine (PEI) and other polycations are good vehicles for transferring genes into the cells. In earlier reports, poly-L-lysine and protamine have been shown to improve gene delivery with cationic liposomes. In this study, PEI, combined with different cationic liposomes, was studied to determine the optimal conditions for gene delivery. The reporter genes, luciferase and green fluorescent protein, were used to transfect human HeLa, HepG2 and hepatoma 2.2.15 cells with various combinations of PEIs (0.8 and 25 kDa), poly-L-lysine (15-30 kDa), protamine and cationic liposomes. The highest expression level was achieved by using the combination of PEI 25 kDa (0.65 microg/microg of DNA, nitrogen-to-DNA phosphate (N/P) ratio=4.5) with 10 nmol of DOTAP-cholesterol (DOTAP-Chol, 1:1 w/w). This DNA complex formulation dramatically increased the luciferase expression 10- to 100-fold, which was much higher than those of other polycations alone, cationic liposomes alone or the combination. In addition, PEI/DOTAP-Chol combination had little cytotoxicity than DOTAP-Chol or other cationic liposomes alone. The effect of oligonucleotide (ODN) delivery facilitated by PEI and cationic liposomes was also studied in the hepatoma cell lines. We demonstrated an antisense ODN of p53 delivered by PEI/DOTAP-Chol combination effectively inhibited the biosynthesis of p53 protein in HepG2 (68% inhibiton) and 2.2.15 cells (43% inhibition). Thus, the large PEI could synergistically increase the transfection efficiency when combined with the cationic liposomes.     

Evaluation of the high-pressure extrusion technique as a method for sizing plasmid DNA-containing cationic liposomes

A promising strategy to improve the immunogenic potential of DNA vaccines is the formulation of plasmid DNA (pDNA) with cationic liposomes. In this respect, particle size may be of crucial importance. This study aimed at the evaluation of high-pressure extrusion as a method for sizing cationic liposomes after entrapment of pDNA. This is a well-known sizing method for liposomes, but so far, it has not been applied for liposomes that are already loaded with pDNA. Liposomes composed of egg PC, DOTAP, and DOPE with entrapped pDNA were prepared by the dehydration-rehydration method and subjected to various extrusion cycles, comparing different membrane pore sizes and extrusion frequencies. At optimized extrusion conditions, liposome diameter (Zave) and polydispersity index (PDI) were reduced from 560 nm and 0.56-150 nm and 0.14 respectively, and 35% of the pDNA was retained. Importantly, gel electrophoresis and transfection experiments with pDNA extracted from these extruded liposomes demonstrated the preservation of the structural and functional integrity of the pDNA. The reduction in size resulted in enhanced transfection of HeLa cells, as detected by functional expression of the fluorescent protein, eGFP. In addition, these liposomes were able to stimulate Toll-like receptor 9, indicating efficient endosomal uptake and release of the included pDNA. In conclusion, high-pressure extrusion is a suitable technique to size cationic liposomes with entrapped pDNA and allows preparation of well-defined nanosized pDNA-liposomes, with preserved pDNA integrity. Their improved transfection efficiency and ability to activate an important pattern-recognition receptor are favorable properties for DNA vaccine delivery vehicles.     

Sphingomyelin liposomes with defined fatty acids: metabolism and effects on reverse cholesterol transport

Small unilamellar liposomes prepared from sphingomyelins with defined 14C-labeled fatty acids were studied after injection into rats. The liposomes contained trace amounts of [3H]cholesteryl linoleyl ether (CLE), which served as a nonexchangeable and nonhydrolyzable marker. The liposomes were cleared from the circulation with an initial t1/2 of about 90 min. [14C]18:0- and [14C]18:1-containing sphingomyelins were cleared at a similar rate, but [14C]18:2-sphingomyelin disappeared much faster. The liver accounted for up to 70% of [3H]cholesteryl ether injected with 18:0-sphingomyelin liposomes, and for up to 50% with liposomes prepared from 18:1 or 18:2-sphingomyelin. The initial uptake of the liver appeared to be of the entire particle, and the loss of 14C label with time indicated metabolism of the sphingomyelins. With [14C]18:0-sphingomyelin liposomes, up to 8% of liver radioactivity was recovered in neutral lipids 6 h after injection, and this value was 17 and 22% with [14C]18:2- and [14C]18:1-sphingomyelins, respectively. The recovery in 'carcass' of [3H]cholesteryl ether 3 h after injection of [14C]18:2-sphingomyelin liposomes was 33% and of 14C label, 21%. Injection of 18:1- or 18:2-sphingomyelin liposomes (5.4 mumol/100 g body weight) resulted in a 2-fold increase of plasma unesterified cholesterol; a 30% increase was seen with 18:0 liposomes (2.63 mumol/100 g body weight). In experiments with cultured cells, the unsaturated sphingomyelin liposomes alone enhanced cholesterol efflux more extensively than the saturated ones, but their efficacies became similar when mixed with apoprotein (apo) A-I. At equimolar concentration, apo C-III1 or C-III2 had a smaller effect than apo A-I. It is concluded that 18:1- or 18:2-sphingomyelin tends to form small unilamellar liposomes which may reach also extrahepatic tissues. The liposomes able to enhance cholesterol release in vitro and in vivo. Since they are not a substrate for lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase, they should be able to deliver the free cholesterol to the liver, where they are also rapidly metabolized.     

Large liposomes containing ganglioside GM1 accumulate effectively in spleen

Large liposomes, with a composition of egg phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and ganglioside GM1, prepared by an extrusion method, were injected intravenously into mice. After 24 h, up to 50% of injected dose was accumulated in spleen compared with about 15% in spleen for liposomes containing no GM1. The effect of GM1 on spleen accumulation of liposomes was liposome size dependent. Only relatively large liposomes (d greater than 300 nm) showed high accumulation; smaller liposomes were progressively less accumulated. The spleen accumulation increased with increasing injection dose of the liposomes. It was noted that the enhanced uptake by spleen was accompanied by a decrease in the liver uptake, but the total uptake of liposomes by liver and spleen was not dependent on the diameter of liposome or the presence of the ganglioside GM1. Autoradiographs of fixed and sectioned spleen using 125I-labeled tyraminylinulin as a content marker for the liposomes, showed that liposomes localized at the reticular meshwork of the red pulp. These results suggest that larger liposomes containing GM1 are filtered by the spleen during the circulation in blood. The smaller ones with a mean diameter of less than 100 nm are not retained by the filter. The function of GM1 is to prevent liposomes from a rapid uptake by the liver so that liposomes may circulate through the spleen and be filtered. These results, together with the observation that the liposome-entrapped proteins were degraded by the spleen, suggest the potential use of these liposomes for specific drug delivery to the spleen.     

Endocytosis of liposomes by macrophages: binding, acidification and leakage of liposomes monitored by a new fluorescence assay

The interaction of liposomes with macrophage cells was monitored by a new fluorescence method (Hong, K., Straubinger, R.M. and Papahadjopoulos, D., J. Cell Biol. 103 (1986) 56a) that allows for the simultaneous monitoring of binding, endocytosis, acidification and leakage. Profound differences in uptake, cell surface-induced leakage and leakage subsequent to endocytosis were measured in liposomes of varying composition. Pyranine (1-hydroxypyrene-3,6,8-trisulfonic acid, HPTS), a highly fluorescent, water-soluble, pH sensitive dye, was encapsulated at high concentration into the lumen of large unilamellar vesicles. HPTS exhibits two major fluorescence excitation maxima (403 and 450 nm) which have a complementary pH dependence in the range 5-9: the peak at 403 nm is maximal at low pH values while the peak at 450 nm is maximal at high pH values. The intra- and extracellular distribution of liposomes and their approximate pH was observed by fluorescence microscopy using appropriate excitation and barrier filters. The uptake of liposomal contents by cells and their subsequent exposure to acidified endosomes or secondary lysosomes was monitored by spectrofluorometry via alterations in the fluorescence excitation maxima. The concentration of dye associated with cells was determined by measuring fluorescence at a pH independent point (413 nm). The average pH of cell-associated dye was determined by normalizing peak fluorescence intensities (403 nm and 450 nm) to fluorescence at 413 nm and comparing these ratios to a standard curve. HPTS-containing liposomes bound to and were acidified by a cultured murine macrophage cell line (J774) with a t1/2 of 15-20 min. The acidification of liposomes exhibited biphasic kinetics and 50-80% of the liposomes reached an average pH lower than 6 within 2 h. A liposomal lipid marker exhibited a rate of uptake similar to HPTS, however the lipid component selectively accumulated in the cell; after an initial rapid release of liposome contents, 2.5-fold more lipid marker than liposomal contents remained associated with the cells after 5 h. Coating haptenated liposomes with antibody protected liposomes from the initial release. The leakage of liposomal contents was monitored by co-encapsulating HPTS and p-xylene-bis-pyridinium bromide, a fluorescence quencher, into liposomes. The time course of dilution of liposome contents, detected as an increase in HPTS fluorescence, was coincident with the acidification of HPTS. The rate and extent of uptake of neutral and negatively charged liposomes was similar; however, liposomes opsonized with antibody were incorporated at a higher rate (2.9-fold) and to a greater extent (3.4-fold).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Use of liposomes in probing the uptake of liposomal phosphatidylcholine by rabbit lung in vitro.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the uptake of liposomal phosphatidylcholine by lung tissue and its subcellular organelles. Multilamellar liposomes were prepared from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine, dicetyl phosphate, and cholesterol (molar ratio 7 : 2 : 1). Liposomal phosphatidylcholine labeled with [1-14C]dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine was taken up by lung slices and incorporated into subcellular organelles including lamellar bodies, mitochondria, and microsomes. In addition, when liposomes were incubated with lamellar bodies, mitochondria, or microsomes, the transfer of liposomal phosphatidylcholine to these subcellular fractions was facilitated by the cytosolic fraction. In tissue slice experiments after 1 h of incubation, about 86% of the total radioactivity absorbed by lung slices and subcellular organelles was recovered in phosphatidylcholine. The ratio of the radioactivity of fatty acids at 1- and 2-positions of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine recovered from all fractions was nearly 1 : 1. This suggests that most phosphatidylcholine molecules were taken up intact. In conclusion, this study provides a method using liposomes as a tool for probing the phosphatidylcholine transfer mechanism in lung.     

The human placental transferrin receptor: Reconstitution into liposomes and electron microscopy

Human transferrin receptor was isolated from Triton X-100 solubilized placental plasma membranes by a rapid one-step chromatographic procedure based on immunoadsorption of the receptortransferrin complex on anti-transferrin Sepharose and lectin-affinity on wheat germ agglutinin. Following exchange of Triton X-100 with CHAPS or n-octylglucoside, the purified receptor was incorporated into egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes upon, detergent removal by dialysis (lipid/protein ratio 15:1 to 45:1 (w/w) Reconstitution of the receptor was confirmed by trypsin cleavage to dissociate the large extracellular receptor domain from the liposomal membranes. Electron micrographs of the receptor-lipid recombinants negatively stained with sodium sillicotungstate, showed ographs of the receptor-lipid recombinants negatively stained with sodium sillicotungstate, showed that the receptor molecules distributed very inhomogeneously on the liposomes, most receptors being clustered. Single copies of the receptor were seen as elongate structures (5×10 nm) oriented with their long axis parallel to the liposome surface and separated from this by a 2–3 nm gap. This result provides evidence for a narrow connecting link between the globular extracellular receptor domain and the membrane spanning segment.Abbreviations CHAPS 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate - PAGE polyacrylaminde gel electrophoresis - PC phosphatidylcholine - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - WGA wheat germ agglutinin     

Properties of scrapie prion protein liposomes

Purified scrapie prions contain one identifiable macromolecule, PrP 27-30, which polymerizes into rod-shaped amyloids. The rods can be dissociated with retention of scrapie infectivity upon incorporation of PrP 27-30 into detergent-lipid-protein complexes (DLPC) as well as liposomes. As measured by end-point titration, scrapie infectivity was increased greater than 100-fold upon dissociating the rods into liposomes. The incorporation of PrP 27-30 into liposomes was demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy using colloidal gold. Detergent extraction of prion liposomes followed by chloroform/methanol extraction resulted in the reappearance of rods, indicating that this process is reversible. Scrapie prion infectivity in rods and liposomes was equally resistant to inactivation by irradiation at 254 nm and was unaltered by exposure to nucleases. A variety of lipids used for producing DLPC and liposomes did not alter infectivity. Fluorescently labeled PrP 27-30 in liposomes was used to study its entry into cultured cells. Unlike the rods which remained as large fluorescent extracellular masses, the PrP 27-30 in liposomes rapidly entered the cells and was seen widely distributed within the interior of the cell. PrP 27-30 is derived by limited proteolysis from a larger protein designated PrP(Sc) which is membrane bound. PrP(Sc) in membrane fractions was solubilized by incorporation in DLPC, thus preventing its aggregation into amyloid rods. The functional solubilization of scrapie prion proteins in DLPC and liposomes offers new approaches to the study of prion structure and the mechanism by which they cause brain degeneration.     

HER2-specific affibody-conjugated thermosensitive liposomes (Affisomes) for improved delivery of anticancer agents

Thermosensitive liposomes are attractive vehicles for the delivery and release of drugs to tumors. To improvethe targeting efficacy for breast cancer treatment, an 8.3-kDa HER2-specific Affibody molecule (Z(HER2:342)-Cys) was conjugated to the surface of liposomes. The effects of this modification on physical characteristics and stability of the resulting nanoparticles denoted as "Affisomes" were investigated. Thermosensitive small unilamellar vesicle (SUV) liposomes of (80-100 nm) a diameter consisting of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC, Tm 41 degrees C) as the matrix lipid and a maleimide-conjugated pegylated phospholipid (DSPE-MaL-PEG2000) were prepared by probe sonication. Fluorescent probes were incorporated into liposomes for biophysical and/or biochemical analysis and/or triggered-release assays. Affibody was conjugated to these liposomes via its C-terminal cysteine by incubation in the presence of a reducing agent (e.g., tributylphosphine) for 16-20 hours under an argon atmosphere. Lipid-conjugated affibody molecule was visible as an 11.3-kDa band on a 4-12% Bis/Tris gel under reducing conditions. Affibody conjugation yields were approximately 70% at a protein-lipid ratio of 20 microg/mg, with an average number of 200 affibody molecules per Affisome. Affibody conjugation to thermosensitive liposomes did not have any significant effect on the hydrodynamic size distribution of the liposomes. Thermosensitivity of Affisomes was determined by monitoring the release of entrapped calcein (a water-soluble fluorescent probe, lambdaex/em 490/515 nm) as a function of temperature. Calcein was released from Affisomes (thermosensitive liposomes with affibody-Targeted SUV) as well as nontargeted SUV (thermosensitive liposomes without affibody) in a temperature-dependent manner, with optimal leakage (90-100%) at 41 degrees C. In contrast, liposomes prepared from Egg phosphatidyl choline (Egg PC, Tm approximately 0 degrees C) under similar conditions released only 5-10% calcein at 41 degrees C. Affisomes, when stored at room temperature, retained > 90% entrapped calcein up to 7 days. Moreover, incubation of liposomes in phosphate-buffered saline, supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated serum (fetal bovine serum) did not result in a destabilization of liposomes. Therefore, Affisomes present promising, novel drug-delivery candidates for breast cancer targeting.     

Properties of stearylamine liposomes containing tyrosine phenol-lyase

The activity of tyrosine phenol-layse a chemotherapeutic enzyme with a dissociable pyridoxal phosphate cofactor, was studied after incorporation into multilamellar positively charged liposomes. Tyrosine phenol-lyase activity was assessed in the presence and absence of exogenous pyridoxal phosphate. A maximum of 75% total enzyme activity was associated with liposomes when prepared from a molar lipid ratio of egg lecithin, cholesterol, stearylamine (7 : 2 : 1, w/w). The total tyrosine phenol-lyase activity was comprised of 25% membrane-associated enzyme and 50% encapsulated enzyme. Encapsulation increased the stability of the enzyme under the in vitro conditions of cold storage at 4°C for 3 weeks and under elevated temperatures up to 61°C. Liposomal encapsulation afforded little protection against trypsin and no protection against whole mouse plasma in vitro. Heat-treated plasma (100°C for 1 h) had little effect on the activity of free and encapsulated tyrosine phenol-lyase. These results indicated that whole plasma contained a heat-labile factor(s) which destroyed both the liposomal and free tyrosine phenol-lyase activity. Plasma clearance after intraperitoneal injection of tyrosine phenol-lyase in B6D2F₁ female mice was reduced by liposomal encapsulation, particularly when the animals were pre-treated with empty liposomes; however, only a small proportion of free and liposomal tyrosine phenol-lyase was absorbed. The free enzyme rapidly lost holoenzyme activity after absorption but the liposomes maintained holoenzyme activity. Even though liposomes preserved holo-tyrosine phenol-lyase activity, the holoenzyme was not present in sufficient concentration to sustain a reduced plasma tyrosine level.     

Activation of human complement by liposomes: a model for membrane activation of the alternative pathway.

Liposomal model membranes were found to activate the alternative pathway of human complement. Activation was measured by C3 conversion and component consumption in serum that had been incubated with liposomes. C3 conversion did not require C1 or C2 of the classical pathway, since it was observed in serum from a C1r-deficient patient, serum from a C2-dificient patient, and normal serum in buffer containing EGTA and MgCl2. The incubation of liposomes with C2-deficient serum resulted in consumption of components C3 through C9 with no consumption of C1 or C4 in a profile typical of alternative pathwya activation. The reaction was further shown to require alternative pathway factor D, and to be independent of antibody. Activation of the alterative pathway was dependent on the membrane composition of the liposomes. A positive charge was required for liposomes to produce C3 conversion. Liposomal cholesterol concentration and phospholipid fatty acyl chain length and unsaturation all influenced activation, suggesting the importance of membrane fluidity. Positively charged liposomes containing dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol required the presence of certain glycolipids for C3 conversion. The activation of the alternative complement pathway by liposomes of defined membrane composition may provide a suitable model for the study of alternative pathway activation by cellular membranes.     

Incorporation of the purified Epstein Barr virus/C3d receptor (CR2) into liposomes and demonstration of its dual ligand binding functions

The 145-kDa molecule that has been identified as the C3d receptor CR2 was isolated from lysates of Raji cells by affinity chromatography by using the monoclonal antibody (MoAb)HB-5. The purified protein was incorporated into 14C-phosphatidylcholine liposomes by deoxycholate dialysis followed by flotation on discontinuous sucrose gradients. Incorporation of the receptor was verified by testing the gradient fractions for CR2 by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Liposomes were shown to be unilamellar vesicles ranging in diameter from 25 to 100 nm by electron microscopy. The external orientation of CR2 in the membranes was demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy. The functional activities of liposomes containing CR2 and liposomes without protein were compared. CR2 liposomes bound to EC3d, but not to E, and this binding was inhibited by the anti-CR2 MoAb OKB7 and by a MoAb specific for C3d. Control liposomes failed to bind to either E or EC3d. The ability of CR2 to function as a receptor for Epstein Barr virus (EBV) was tested in two ways. First, CR2 liposomes bound to B95-8, a cell line expressing EBV membrane antigens, but not to B95-8 cells treated with the viral DNA polymerase inhibitor phosphonoformic acid. Second, liposomes containing CR2 were shown by ultracentrifugal analyses to bind directly to purified EBV, and this binding was also inhibited by OKB7. Control liposomes did not bind to B95-8 cells or to EBV. These findings show that CR2 purified from detergent extracts of Raji cells can be reconstituted into lipid membranes with maintenance of its dual functions as a receptor for C3d and EBV.     

The effects of charge and size on the interaction of unilamellar liposomes with macrophages

The effect of the positive surface charge of unilamellar liposomes on the kinetics of their interaction with rat peritoneal macrophages was investigated using three sizes of liposomes: small unilamellar vesicles (approx. 25 nm diameter), prepared by sonication, and large unilamellar vesicles (100 nm and 160 nm diameter), prepared by the Lipoprep dialysis method. Charge was varied by changing the proportion of stearylamine added to the liposomal lipids (egg phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol, molar ratio 10:2.5). Increasing the stearylamine content of large unilamellar vesicles over a range of 0-25 mol% enhanced the initial rate of vesicle-cell interaction from 0.1 to 1.4 microgram lipid/min per 10(6) cells, and the maximal association from 5 to 110 micrograms lipid/10(6) cells. Cell viability was greater than 90% for cells incubated with large liposomes containing up to 15 mol% stearylamine but decreased to less than 50% at stearylamine proportions greater than 20 mol%. Similar results were obtained with small unilamellar vesicles except that the initial rate of interaction and the maximal association were less sensitive to stearylamine content. The initial rate of interaction, with increasing stearylamine up to 25 mol%, ranged from 0.5 to 0.7 microgram lipid/min per 10(6) cells, and the maximal association ranged from 20 to 70 micrograms lipid/10(6) cells. A comparison of the number and entrapped aqueous volume of small and large vesicles containing 15 mol% stearylamine revealed that although the number of large vesicles associated was 100-fold less than the number of small vesicles, the total entrapped aqueous volume introduced into the cells by large vesicles was 10-fold greater. When cytochalasin B, a known inhibitor of phagocytosis, was present in the medium, the cellular association of C8-LUV was reduced approx. 25% but association of SUV increased approx. 10-30%. Modification of small unilamellar vesicles with an amino mannosyl derivative of cholesterol did not increase their cellular interaction over that of the corresponding stearylamine liposomes, indicating that cell binding induced by this glycolipid may be due to the positive charge of the amine group on the sugar moiety. The results demonstrate that the degree of liposome-cell interaction with macrophages can be improved by increasing the degree of positive surface charge using stearylamine. Additionally, the delivery of aqueous drugs to cells can be further improved using large unilamellar vesicles because of their greater internal volume. This sensitivity of macrophages to vesicle charge and size can be used either to increase or reduce liposome uptake significantly by this cell type     

Transformation of competent Bacillus subtilis cells by chromosomal and plasmid DNA incorporated in liposomes

Transformation with chromosomal and plasmid DNAs comprised in liposomes of different compositions was studied on competent cells of Bacillus subtilis. Transformation with chromosomal DNA comprised in liposomes appeared to constitute 1.1 to 1.5% of the control, and transformation with plasmid DNA in liposomes reaches 8 to 11%, as compared to the control. It has been revealed that absorbtion of chromosomal or plasmid DNA comprised in liposomes by competent cells is 1-2 orders higher than that of chromosomal or plasmid DNAs which are not contained in liposomes. Besides, chromosomal DNA in liposomes was found to be transferred to competent cells in the double-stranded form, while during common transformation without liposomes, the DNA transferred is single-stranded.