The study of human PDGF-B gene transferred to cat corneal endothelial cells

AIM: To demonstrate that human platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) cDNA could be expressed in primary cultured cat corneal endothelia cells by using gene transfer techniques; to explore a useful tool for the further studies of the molecular mechanisms of corneal endothelium failure and provide a potential effective genetic therapy for the blind patients. METHODS: Human PDGF-B cDNA was isolated from human placent by RT-PCR and inserted into pcDNA4 vector to construct recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA4-PDGF-B. The full length was confirmed by the DNA sequencing analysis. By tearing endothelium technique we obtained pure single layer of cat corneal endothelial cells. The pcDNA4-PDGF-B eukaryotic expression vector was transferred into cat corneal endothelial cells by EffecteneTM lipofectine. The transfection efficiency of EffecteneTM lipofectine in pcDNA4-B was detected with pcDNA4-GFP. 5 days later, RT-PCR was used to check the PDGF-B expression. Cell viability was tested by modified tertrozalium salt (MTT) method. Cell morphology was observed under inverted phase contrast microscope. RESULTS: The human PDGF-B cDNA was isolated successfully from healthy parturien placent tissue and the sequence was confirmed by computer automatic sequence and PCR analysis. Pure single layer cat corneal endothelial cells were successfully cultured by tearing endothelium technique. EffecteneTM lipofectine transfection technique could be effectively used to transfer pcDNA4-PDGF-B into cat corneal endothelial cells in vitro, the transfection efficiency was 30%. RT-PCR result showed that human PDGF-B gene was highly expressed in transfected cat corneal endothelial cells. The expressed PDGF-BB protein promoted the viability of cat corneal endothelial cells.CONCLUSION: Human platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) cDNA could be highly expressed in cultured cat corneal endothelial cells by gene transfection techniques. Expressed PDGF-BB protein significantly promoted the viability of cat corneal endothelial cells, thus provided a potential effective method for corneal endothelium blindness genetic therapy.