Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor gene in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.
BACKGROUND
It is the key point for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF121) gene related therapy as to how to transfect and express the gene safely, effectively and repeatedly. This study was designed to investigate the VEGF121 transfection and expression in primary cultured rat hepatocyte.


METHODS
After construction of vector internal ribosome entry site-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (pIRES-EYFP)/VEGF121, the transfection and expression of the exogenous VEGF121 gene in primary cultured rat hepatocytes were observed through RT-PCR, Western blot and fluorescent microscopy.


RESULTS
pIRES-EYFP/VEGF121 plasmid was constructed and transfected successfully into primary cultured rat hepatocytes, the transfection and expression of gene in primary cultured rat hepatocytes were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot, and yellow-green fluorescence was observed through a fluorescent microscope.


CONCLUSIONS
The successful transfection and expression of plasmid pIRES-EYFP/VEGF121 in primary cultured rat hepatocytes provides a foundation for hepatocyte transplantation and gene therapy after modification of hepatocytes by the gene.
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China. wangjinlin@hotmail.com
Jin-Lin
JL
Wang
Jun
J
Ming
Xiao-Dong
XD
Zhou
Ya-Jin
YJ
Cheng
Lei
L
Zhang
Jie-Shen
JS
Cheng
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C054562:yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria