Growth and expression of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells modified by nerve growth factor in diabetic rat bladders

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine whether rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transfected with the nerve growth factor (NGF) gene and then transplanted into diabetic rat bladder tissues survive and continue to express NGF. A recombinant lentiviral vector carrying the NGF gene was constructed and transfected into rat bone marrow MSCs. BrdU‑labeled immunohistochemistry was used to observe NGF expression in the transfected MSCs. BrdU‑labeled and NGF‑transfected MSCs were transplanted into diabetic rat bladder tissues. BrdU‑labeled immunohistochemistry was used to observe the growth of NGF‑transfected MSCs in the tissue samples. NGF mRNA and protein expression levels in MSCs were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA, respectively. The recombinant NGF gene lentiviral vector and NGF gene-modified rat bone marrow MSCs were successfully constructed. NGF gene-modified rat MSCs survived in the diabetic rat bladders 4 weeks following injection and NGF gene expression was increased. In the present study, NGF gene-modified MSCs were shown to be capable of survival in diabetic rat bladder tissues and stably expressed NGF.