Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) contributes to proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and induces the differentiation of BMSCs into chondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of human TGFβ2 (hTGFβ2) transfection on the directional differentiation of BMSCs into osteoblasts.  
METHODS: A total of 16 clean male Lewis rats aged 3 weeks were selected for isolation of BMSCs. hTGFβ2 gene was transfected into the second passage of rat BMSCs cultured in vitro through Ad-hTGFβ2. 48 hours later, immunohistochemical staining, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting assay were used to determine target gene and cartilage specific protein-type Ⅱ collagen and aggrecan in transfected cells.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A population of BMSCs was successfully isolated from adult rats. They appeared fibroblast-likely and could stably proliferate and subculture in vitro. After transfected with Ad-hTGFβ2, the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells towards chondrocytes was verified by the positive results of type Ⅱ collagen protein expression through immunohistochemistry and Western blotting respectively. RT-PCR detected type Ⅱ collagen and aggrecan mRNA expression. Results suggest that MSCs from bone marrow presented multi-differentiational potential, and BMSCs can proliferate and subculture stably in vitro. Ad-hTGFβ2 is successfully transfected into BMSCs, and induces the differentiation of BMSCs into chondrocytes.