Intranuclear delivery of proteins in fibroblasts through the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor

Marry Duin – Technician, Dept. Nanomedicine and Drug Targeting, University of Groningen; Klaas Poelstra – Professor, Head of department, Dept. Nanomedicine and Drug Targeting, University of Groningen

Introduction:

Liver fibrosis is characterized by proliferation of activated fibroblasts and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. In the past we developed cell-specific proteins to fibroblasts by coupling a PDGF-beta-receptor binding peptide (pPB) to albumin, enabling drug delivery to these cells. While studying this, we noticed some nuclear staining. We therefore explored whether pPB-proteins might translocate to the nucleus after binding to its receptor.3T3 and CCD cells were used as model cell lines.