Lentivirus-mediated over-expression of beta-catenin accelerates proliferation and migration of mesenchymal stem cells

Wu Qian; Wei Ya-ming; Li Yu-yuan; Nie Yu-qiang; Cao Yan-wen

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.40.009

Abstract：BACKGROUND:β-catenin is the most critical signaling molecule in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is involved in the regulation of cellproliferation, differentiation and tissue self-healing balance. <br> OBJECTIVE:To construct a stableβ-catenin over-expression lentivirus-mediated vector and to transfect mesenchymal stem cells line for investigating its effects on proliferation and migration of mesenchymal stem cells. <br> METHODS:Over-expression vector, PLV-EF1A-catenin-RFP, was constructed and transfected the 293T cellto infect mesenchymal stem cells, and positive cells were selected with puromycin. The up-regulated efficiency of targetingβ-catenin gene at mRNA level was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, the effect on proliferation of mesenchmal stem cellwas assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and growth curve, and the migration ability was detected by Transwel motility assay. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The lentiviral vector targetingβ-catenin gene was constructed successful y, and a stable mesenchymal stem cellline that up-regulatedβ-catenin was established. Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that the expression ofβ-catenin gene was efficiently up-regulated by infecting PLV-EF1A-catenin-RFP (P<0.05). The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and growth curve showed that celldoubling time was shortened after infected with pLV-EF1A-catenin-RFP (P<0.05), indicating that the over-expression of theβ-catenin gene successful y increased the proliferative capability of mesenchymal stem cells. The Transwel assay also showed similar increasing results on the migration ability (P<0.01). The lenvivirus-mediated over-expression of theβ-catenin gene can be used to increase the proliferation and migration abilities of the mesenchymal stem cells.