Proliferation of endothelial cell on polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft materials carried VEGF gene plasmid.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene plasmid carried by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular graft materials could transfect endothelial cells (ECs) and promote their growth.


METHODS
PTFE vascular graft materials carried with pCDI-hVEGF(121), pCDI or pEGFP were incubated in Tris-buffer solution and the values of optical density of 260 nm at different time were plotted, then the DNA controlled release curve was made. ECs derived from human umbilical vein were seeded on the pCDI-hVEGF(121)/pCDI/pEGFP-PTFE materials or tissue culture plates, ECs numbers were counted and VEGF protein concentrations at different time were measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay method. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in ECs on pEGFP-PTFE materials was examined with fluorescence microscopy.


RESULTS
The controlled release curve showed that the gene released from PTFE materials was rapid within 8 h, then slowed down and that the gene released continuously even after 72 h. At 24, 72 and 120 h, ECs number and proliferation rate of pCDI-hVEGF(121)-PTFE materials were higher than those of pCDI or pEGFP-PTFE materials (P<0.05). VEGF protein concentration of pCDI-hVEGF(121)-PTFE materials was higher than that of pCDI or pEGFP-PTFE materials at 6, 24, 72 and 120 h (P<0.01). GFP expression in ECs on the pEGFP-PTFE materials could be detected by fluorescence microscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
PTFE graft can be used as a carrier of VEGF gene plasmid, VEGF gene carried by PTFE can transfect ECs and promote ECs growth.
Tao
Si-feng
SF
Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Chen
Li
L
Zheng
Yi-xiong
YX
Xu
Yuan
Y
Chen
Jian
J
Yu
Hong
H
D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D004247:DNA