[Effects of encapsulated plasmid recombining with hANP cDNA transfected cells on morphological and histological characteristic of experimental hypertensive rats].

A technique based on release of the human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) from plasmid hANP cDNA transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells encapsulated in polycaprolactone (PCL)-capsules was used for a potential therapeutic approach to hypertension or congestive heart failure (CHF). The plasmid combining with hANP cDNA was transfected into CHO cells, and then encapsulated plasmid hANP cDNA transfected CHO cells were implanted into two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats intraperitoneally. The morphological changes, histological changes were investigated after the implantation of PCL-capsules in 2K1C hypertensive rats. The results showed that the implantation of encapsulated hANP-producing cells caused a significant delay of blood pressure (BP) increase after the encapsulated cells being implanted in 2K1C hypertensive rats. These effects were reflected morphologically by an attenuation of the glomerular sclerotic lesions, tubular damage and renal arterial thickening, comparing with control group. The plasma levels of hANP in 2K1C rats implanted with the PCL-capsules containing hANP-producing cells were higher than that of the control rats. These results demonstrated the usefulness of encapsulated hANP gene transfected cells as a new tool for hANP gene delivery in studying renovascular hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, thus implying the potential of using gene transfected cells as therapeutic agents in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.