Impact of transfection of bFGF gene on the proliferative characteristics of human BMSCs

Objective To investigate the proliferative characteristics of hBMSCs as seed cells of tissue engineering after being transfected with bFGF gene in vitro.Methods The plasmid containing human pcDNA3.1-bFGF was transfected into P3 population of hBMSCs by using lipofectamine 2000. Positive clones of BMSCs with bFGF gene were selected with G418. The expression of bFGF mRNA and its productions in the transfected BMSCs were detected by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence. The proliferation and cell cycle of transfected BMSCs were examined by MTT colorimetric assay and flow cytometry. The transfected BMSCs and non-transfected BMSCs were induced to differentiate into osteo-blasts and the ALP activity was detected. Results BMSCs expressing bFGF gene were obtained by transfection with pcDNA3.1-bFGF gene via lipofectamine. The cells were demonstrated to express bFGF mRNA and bFGF protein by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence test. MTT colorimetric assay revealed that more proliferative activity of transfected BMSCs was shown than that of non-transfected cells; and a higher proportion of cells in proliferation cycle and higher ALP activity were also shown in transfected BMSCs (P<0.05). Conclusions Via lipofectamine, pcDNA3.1-bFGF can be transfected into BMSCscultured in vitro. Genetic modification of hBMSCs with bFGF may improve the viability of BMSCs, promote the proliferation of the cells, and make them into osteoblasts. Key words: Gene transfection;  basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF); Bone marrow derived mes-enchymal stem cells (BMSCs)