Hydrodynamics-based transfection of pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 DNA improves hyperglycemia and is associated with limited complications in diabetic mice.

The biohazards caused by the viral delivery of pancreatic duodenal homeobox gene 1 (Pdx1) to the murine liver limits its application. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of hydrodynamics-based transfection (HBT) with Pdx1 in improving hyperglycemia. Murine hepatocellular carcinoma (Hepa1-6) cells were transfected with the Pdx1-expressing plasmid, pcDNA3.

Altered expression patterns of lipid metabolism genes in an animal model of HCV core-related, nonobese, modest hepatic steatosis.

Background: Because the gene expression patterns of nonobese hepatic steatosis in affected patients remain unclear, we sought to explore these patterns using an animal model of nonobese hepatic steatosis.

Methods: We developed mice that conditionally express the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein regulated by the tetracycline transactivator (tTA). Microarray analyses and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed using liver samples of both the double transgenic mice (DTM), which express both the HCV core and tTA, and single transgenic mice (STM), which express tTA alone, at 2 months of age.