Optimization Of Transient Transfection Of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells With Plasmid DNA Or Messenger RNA For Cell Therapy

By Mary Doolin, Terri Willstaedt, and Jon Rowley

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are increasingly investigated in preclinical and clinical trials due to their immunomodulatory and regenerative functions, as well as favorable safety profile. The transient transfection of MSCs with genetic material is an invaluable technique that can yield new mechanistic insights into MSC function and improve effectiveness of MSC-based therapies. As an alternative to virus, genetic material can form complexes with molecules such as lipids or cations to enter the cell.

Our objective here was to produce an optimal protocol for the transient transfection of human MSCs (hMSCs) with pDNA or messenger RNA (mRNA) using non-viral means.