In vivo gene transfer to skeletal muscle is a promising strategy for the treatment of muscle disorders and for the systemic delivery
of therapeutic proteins. Electrotransfer is a powerful method for DNA transfer into skeletal muscle. In view of the broad
potential gene therapy clinical application of electrotransfer offers, it is important to perform toxicology studies on electrotransfered
muscle tissue. We have investigated if the delivery of square wave electric pulses of low field strength and long duration
to mouse tibial cranial muscle induced the expression of stress related genes. We have profiled gene expression patterns in
muscles at different times after delivery of electric pulses using Stress/Toxicology microarrays. No significant variation
in the expression of stress related-genes was detected between treated and non-treated muscles. This suggests that application
of adequate, fine-tuned, electric pulses to the skeletal muscle is a non-toxic technique for gene therapy.
cDNA microarray - electrotransfer - gene therapy - muscle - stress - toxicity
This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.