BACKGROUND: It is the key point for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF121) gene related therapy as to how to transfect and express the gene safely, effectively and repeatedly. This study was designed to investigate the VEGF121 transfection and expression in primary cultured rat hepatocyte.
METHODS: After construction of vector internal ribosome entry site-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (pIRES-EYFP)/VEGF121, the transfection and expression of the exogenous VEGF121 gene in primary cultured rat hepatocytes were observed through RT-PCR, Western blot and fluorescent microscopy.
RESULTS: pIRES-EYFP/VEGF121 plasmid was constructed and transfected successfully into primary cultured rat hepatocytes, the transfection and expression of  gene in primary cultured rat hepatocytes were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot, and yellow-green fluorescence was observed through a fluorescent microscope.
CONCLUSION: The successful transfection and expression of plasmid pIRES-EYFP/VEGF121 in primary cultured rat hepatocytes provides a foundation for hepatocyte transplantation and gene therapy after modification of hepatocytes by the gene.