Cationic niosome-based hBMP7 gene transfection of neuronal precursor NT2 cells to reduce the migration of glioma cells in vitro

Abstract

This study explores interesting complementary approaches in cell-based hBMP7 gene delivery in order to mitigate the migration of glioblastoma cells based on the idea that this human bone morphogenetic protein (hBMP7) has enormous therapeutic potential in curing brain injuries as well as malignancies. After physicochemical characterization, the non-viral cationic niosomes were complexed with pUNO1-hBMP7 plasmids and used to transfect neuronal precursor NT2 cells. Subsequently, the transfected cells were co-cultured with glioma C6 cells to determine their antitumor effect in vitro. However the co-culture with either untransfected/transfected NT2 cells may reduce the viability of C6 glioma cells, the hBMP7-overexpressing NT2 cells hamper the migration of C6 glioma cells. These results highlight the potential of NT2 cell-based delivery of hBMP7 for impeding the metastasis of glioma cells.