Nucleofection of primary bone marrow stromal cells of rabbit with pEGFP-C2

Abstract

Objective To explore the feasibility of recently developed nucleofection method in delivering plamid DNA directly into the nucleus for the introduction of a plasmid encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) into primary bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) of rabbit. Methods Rabbit BMSCs were harvested by means of density gradient centrifugation following a thighbone puncture. The primary BMSCs were cultured and either transfected with pEGFP-C2 by nucleofector technology (as EGFP group) or uninfected (as control) in vitro. Compared with the control, the cellular viability, adhesive rates and the growth curves of the labeled cells were respectively analyzed. Transfection efficiencies were evaluated through the detection of EGFP expression. Results EGFP were successfully expressed 24 h after nucleofection. Similar morphological development, adhesive rates and growth curves were found in the 2 groups. The positive EGFP expression was enhanced gradually alone with the prolonged culture time, and showed the strongest 6 d after marked, with about 47.8% of EGFP-positive cells in the total BMSCs. The EGFP did not attenuate even 1 month after the marking. Conclusion Neuclofection of pEGFP-C2 shows no significant effect on the proliferation of rabbit BMSCs. EGFP plays an important role in stable gene marking of rabbit BMSCs. Nucleofection is an efficient nonviral gene transfer method for the introduction of genes into primary rabbit BMSCs. Key words: Green fluorescent protein; Bone marrow stromal cells; Nucleofection; Rabbit