The Effect of HRE-Regulated VEGF Expression and Transfection on Neural Stem Cells in Rats

Abstract

In this study, we analyzed neural stem cells transfected with the HRE-VEGF gene in groups experiencing different periods of hypoxia. The results of RT-PCR showed that the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA gradually increased with the prolonged period of hypoxia (p < 0.05). The results from the western-blot test showed that expression of the VEGF protein increased with as the period of hypoxia increased (p < 0.05). The results of MTT combined with Elisa reagent showed that with the prolonged period of hypoxia, the secretion of VEGF protein increased, and that the proliferation of target cells and neural stem cells was better promoted (p < 0.05). These results imply that HRE can safely and effectively regulate VEGF expression. By controlling the period of hypoxia, we can increase the expression level, and limit it in more safe values to avoid the possibility of cancer caused by the over-enhancement of proliferation of target cells due to the overexpression of the VEGF protein.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) with hypoxia response elements loaded by adeno-associated virus (AAV) combined with neural stem cells improve the spinal cord injury recovery

“…Many researches have reported that overexpressed NGF is latently oncogenic and possesses other risks [ 51 , 52 ], and thus needed appropriate regulators to improve the specificity of NGF overexpression. HRE is induced explicitly by hypoxia-inducible factors in hypoxia sites [ 53 ]; thereupon, according to injury conditions, we hope to regulate the expression of NGF so that an appropriate amount of NGF could be expressed explicitly at hypoxia sites and prevent latent hyperplasia or other side-effects.…”