Construction of immortalized rat neural progenitor cell strain by transfection with simian virus 40 large T antigene gene / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish immortalized neural progenitor cell strain and provide stable cell resource for cell-transplantation and gene therapies. Methods Plasmid pCMVSV40T/PUR containing the simian virus 40 large T antigen gene (SV40Tag) were transfected into the primary cultured neural progenitor cells (NPCs) of newborn rat using lipofectin transfection method. Colonies were isolated by puromycin selection and expanded by many passages. Anti-nestin antibodies were used to identify the cultured cells. The specific molecular marker of neurons and astrocytes were detected using immunocytochemistry method to investigate the capability of differentiation of the transfected cells. The expression of SV40Tag in expanded cell lines was identified by RT-PCR, Southern blot and immunocytochemistry method.Results One anti-puromycin cell clone was obtained, which was microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) positive cells with the capability of proliferation and could differentiate into MAP-2 or glial fibrillary acidic protein positive cells. The existence of SV40Tag cDNA and the expression of mRNA and protein of SV40Tag were confirmed in transfected cells. The transfected cells were expanded to immortalized cell strain maintained for more than 50 passages, named as immortalized neural progenitor cell (INPC) . INPCs were elliptical or triangular cells with two or three short axons. The population doubling time of INPC was (22.9?2.7)h, subculture, freezing and recovering had no effect on cellular shape and proliferation of INPC. Conclusion Immortalized neural progenitor cell strain was established successfully. It may provide stable cell resource for the basic researches and cell-transplantation therapies with NPC.