BACKGROUND: The highly specific vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces the growth of vascular endothelial cell. This study was to construct the eukaryotic expression plasmid of vascular endothelial growth factor165 (VEGF165) and observe its expression in vascular smooth muscles (VSMCs).
METHODS: The primers were designed and synthesized according to the gene sequences of human VEGF165. The VEGF165 gene was obtained from umbilic artery tissue by the method of RT-PCR, then it was cloned to eukaryotic expression plasmid pBudCE4.1 by recombination strategy. The eukaryotic expression plasmid named pBudCE4.1/VEGF165 was identified by restriction enzyme digestion, and was sequenced. The pBudCE4.1/VEGF165 was transfected into VSMCs by using lipofection. The VEGF165 expression of mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.
RESULTS: VEGF165 was shown about 576bp by RT-PCR. Sequencing revealed the amplified VEGF165 gene was identical with that in the GeneBank. Restrictive enzyme (Hind Ⅲ, Bam HI) digestion analysis showed that recombinant expression plasmid pBudCE4.1/tVEGF165 had been constructed successfully. The expression of VEGF165 at mRNA and protein levels in the transformed VSMCs had been demonstrated by RT-PCR and Western blot.
CONCLUSIONS: The recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pBudCE4.1/VEGF165 has been successfully constructed and expressed in transformed VSMCs. The present study has laid a  foundation for VEGF165 gene therapy of vascular stenosis in the transplant organ.