%0 Journal Article %T Gene therapy based on interleukin-12 loaded chitosan nanoparticles in a mouse model of fibrosarcoma %J Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences %I Mashhad University of Medical Sciences %Z 2008-3866 %A Razi Soofiyani, Saiedeh %A Hallaj-Nezhadi, Somayeh %A Lotfipour, Farzaneh %A Hosseini, Akbar Mohammad %A Baradaran, Behzad %D 2016 %\ 11/01/2016 %V 19 %N 11 %P 1238-1244 %! Gene therapy based on interleukin-12 loaded chitosan nanoparticles in a mouse model of fibrosarcoma %K Chitosan %K Gene Therapy %K IL-12 %K In vivo %K Nanoparticle %K Tumor %R 10.22038/ijbms.2016.7825 %X Objective(s): Interleukin-12 (IL-12) as a cytokine has been proved to have a critical role in stimulating the immune system and has been used as immunotherapeutic agents in cancer gene therapy. Chitosan as a polymer, with high ability of binding to nucleic acids is a good candidate for gene delivery since it is biodegradable, biocompatible and non-allergenic polysaccharide. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of cells transfected with IL-12 loaded chitosan nanoparticles on the regression of fibrosarcoma tumor cells (WEHI-164) in vivo. Materials and Methods: WEHI-164 tumor cells were transfected with IL-12 loaded chitosan nanoparticles and then were injected subcutaneously to inoculate tumor in BALB/c mice. Tumor volumes were determined and subsequently extracted after mice sacrifice. The immunohistochemistry staining was performed for analysis of Ki-67 expression (a tumor proliferation marker) in tumor masses. The expression of IL-12 and IFN-γ were studied using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. Results: The group treated with IL-12 loaded chitosan nanoparticles indicated decreasing of tumor mass volume (P<0.001). The results of western blotting and real-time PCR showed that the IL-12 expression was increased in the group. Immunohistochemistry staining indicated that the Ki-67expression was reduced in the group treated with IL-12 loaded chitosan nanoparticles. Conclusion: IL-12 gene therapy using chitosan nanoparticles has therapeutic effects on the regression of tumor masses in fibrosarcoma mouse model. %U https://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_7825_932c4820776025c08bb2edde64578f48.pdf