Objective To transplant intravenously human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (hBDNF) genemodified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) marked with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to injured spinal cord of adult rats, then to observe the viabil ity of the cells and the expressions of the gene in spinal cord, as well as theinfluence of neurological morphological repairing and functional reconstruction. Methods Ninety-six male SD rats weighing (250 ± 20) g were randomly divided into 4 groups: hBDNF-EGFP-BMSCs transplantation group (group A, n=24), Ad5-EGFPBMSCs transplantation group (group B, n=24), control group (group C, n=24), and sham operation group (group D, n=24). In groups A, B, and C, the spinal cord injury models were prepared according to the modified Allen method at the level of T10 segment, and after 3 days, 1 mL hBDNF-EGFP-BMSCs suspension, 1 mL Ad5-EGFP-BMSCs suspension and 1 mL 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffered sal ine (PBS) were injected into tail vein, respectively; in group D, the spinal cord was exposed without injury and injection. At 24 hours after injury and 1, 3, 5 weeks after intravenous transplantation, the structure and neurological function of rats were evaluated by the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score, cortical somatosensory evoked potential (CSEP) and transmission electron microscope. The viabil ity and distribution of BMSCs in the spinal cord were observed by fluorescent inverted phase contrast microscope and the level of hBDNF protein expression in the spinal cord was observed and analyzed with Western blot. Meanwhile, the expressions of neurofilament 200 (NF-200) and synaptophysin I was analyzed with immunohi stochemistry. Results After intravenous transplantation, the neurological function was significantly improved in group A. The BBB scores and CSEP in group A were significantly higher than those in groups B and C (P lt; 0.05) at 3 and 5 weeks. The green fluorescence expressions were observed at the site of injured spinal cord in groups A and B at 1, 3, and 5 weeks. The hBDNF proteinexpression was detected after 1, 3, and 5 weeks of intravenous transplantation in group A, while it could not be detected in groups B, C, and D by Western blot. The expressions of NF-200 and synaptophysin I were ber and ber with transplanting time in groups A, B, and C. The expressions of NF-200 and synaptophysin I were best at 5 weeks, and the expressions in group A were ber than those in groups B and C (P lt; 0.05). And the expressions of NF-200 in groups A, B, and C were significantly ber than those in group D (P lt; 0.05), whereas the expressions of synaptophysin I in groups A, B, and C were significantly weaker than those in group D (P lt; 0.05). Ultramicrostructure of spinal cords in group A was almost normal. Conclusion Transplanted hBDNF-EGFP-BMSCs can survive and assemble at the injured area of spinal cord, and express hBDNF. Intravenous implantation of hBDNF-EGFP-BMSCs could promote the restoration of injured spinal cord and improve neurological functions.
Objective To investigate the memory amelioration of the Alzheimer disease (AD)model rat after being transplanted the single neural stem cells(NSC) and NSC modified with human brain-derived neurotrophic factor（hBDNF） gene. Methods Forty SD rats were divided evenly into 4 groups randomly. The AD model rats were made by cutting unilaterallythe fibria fornix of male rats. Ten to twelve days after surgery, the genetically modified and unmodified NSC were implanted into the lateral cerebral ventricle of group Ⅲ and group Ⅳ respectively. Two weeks after transplantation, theamelioration of memory impairment of the rats was detected by Morris water maze. Results The average escaping latency of the group Ⅲ and group Ⅳ (41.84±21.76 s,25.23±17.06 s respectively) was shorter than that of the group Ⅱ(70.91±23.67 s) (Plt;0.01). The percentage of swimming distance inthe platform quadrant in group Ⅲ (36.9%) and in group Ⅳ(42.0%) was higherthan that in the group Ⅱ(26.0%) (Plt;0.01). More marginal and random strategies were used in group Ⅱ.The percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant in group Ⅳ was also greater than that in group Ⅲ(Plt;0.05). There were no significant differences in the average escaping latency, the percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant and the probe strategy between group Ⅳ and group Ⅰ(Pgt;0.05).More lineal and oriented strategies were used in group Ⅳ. Conclusion The behavioral amelioration of AD model rat was obtained by transplanting single NSC and hBDNF-gene-modified NSC. The effect of the NSC group modified with hBDNF gene is better than that of the groupⅢ.
ObjectiveTo obtain rat hair follicle stem cells (rHFSCs) which can constantly and highly express vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165), and to observe the expression of VEGF165 gene in rat HFSCs. MethodsThe cirri skin of 1-week-old Sprague Dawley rat was harvested and digested by using combination of Dispase and type IV collagenases. The bulge was isolated under microscope. The rHFSCs were cultured by tissue block method. After purified by rapid adhering on collagen type IV, the growth curve of different generations rHFSCs was drawn. The cells were identified by immunofluorescence staining and real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis that tested the expression level of correlated genes. Lentivirus of pLV-internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-VEGF165-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) (experimental group) and pLV-IRES-EGFP empty vector (control group) was packaged by calcium transfected method and the rHFSCs were transfected. The green fluorescent protein expression was observed by inverted fluorescence microscope, and VEGF165 mRNA and protein expressions were detected using RT-PCR and Western blot. ResultsThe rHFSCs which were isolated, cultured, and purified were like the "slabstone", and had strong adhesion ability and colony formation ability. The purified cells were in latent growth phase at 2-3 days; they were in exponential growth phase at 5-6 days. The expressions of cytokeration 15 (CK15), integrin α6, and integrin β1 (markers of HFSCs) were positive by immunocytochemistry. The RT-qPCR analysis showed that CK15, CK19, integrin α6, and integrin β1 expressed highly, but CD34 (a marker of epidermal stem cells) and CK10 (a marker of keratinocyte) expressed lowly. After 14 days, the transfection efficiency was up to 85.76%±1.91%. RT-PCR analysis and Western blot showed that VEGF165 mRNA and protein expressions were positive in experimental group, and were negative in control group. ConclusionThe rHFSCs with high purity and strong proliferation ability can be obtained by using microscope combined with tissue cultivation and rapid cell adhesion on collagen type IV. The rHFSCs with high expression of VEGF165 can be successfully obtained by lentiviral transfection. This method provides good seeding cells for tissue engineering to construct artificial hair follicles, blood vessels, and skins.