Significance of the expression of green fluorescent protein on detection of glioma invasion in vivo

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the invasion and metastasis of glioma in vivo by xenotransplanted tumor established by implanting C6 glioma cells transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene in vitro into the brain of SD rats. Methods: C6 cells were transfected with a plasmid vector (pEGEP-N3) containing the GFP gene. Stable GFP-expressing clones were isolated and performed examination by flow cytometry and electron microscope. GFP-expressing cells were stereotactically injected into the brain parenchyma of SD rats to establish xenotransplanted tumor. Four weeks later rats were killed and continuous brain sections respectively were examined by HE staining, immunohistochemistry method and fluorescence microscopy for detection of tumor cell invasion. Xenotransplanted tumor was primarily cultured to determine the storage of exotic GFP gene in vivo. Results: There were not obvious changes in cell cycle and ultrastructure for the cells transfected with GFP gene. C6 cells transfected with GFP gene maintained stable high-level GFP expression in the central nervous system during their growth in vivo. GFP fluorescence clearly demarcated the primary tumor margin and readily allowed for the detection of distant invasion on the single-cell level, which was evidently superior to HE and immunohistochemistry staining. There was not GFP gene loss of transfected cells in vivo. Conclusions: It is suggested that C6 cells transfected with GFP gene can be visualized by fluorescent microscopy after intracranial implantation. This model is an excellent experimental animal model in research on invasion of glioma.