title: Transfection of VEGF(165) genes into endothelial progenitor cells and in vivo imaging using quantum dots in an ischemia hind limb model.
abstract: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were transfected with fluorescently labeled quantum dot nanoparticles (QD NPs) with or without VEGF(165) plasmid DNA (pDNA) to probe the EPCs after in vivo transplantation and to test whether they presented as differentiated endothelial cells (ECs). Bare QD NPs and QD NPs coated with PEI or PEI + VEGF(165) genes were characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Transfection of EPCs with VEGF(165) led to the expression of specific genes and proteins for mature ECs. A hind limb ischemia model was generated in nude mice, and VEGF(165) gene-transfected EPCs were transplanted intramuscularly into the ischemic limbs. At 28 days after transplantation, the VEGF(165) gene-transfected EPCs significantly increased the number of differentiated ECs compared with the injection of medium or bare EPCs without VEGF(165) genes. Laser Doppler imaging revealed that blood perfusion levels were increased significantly by VEGF(165) gene-transfected EPCs compared to EPCs without VEGF(165). Moreover, the transplantation of VEGF(165) gene-transfected EPCs increased the specific gene and protein expression levels of mature EC markers and angiogenic factors in the animal model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, 3F, Yatap Acecore, 502 Yatap-dong Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Han Na
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ji Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dae Gyun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Su Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Keun-Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A