This study analyzed migration characteristics of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro and in vivo, as well as exogenous gene expression in the brain following transfection of NSCs with an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene expression vector pIRES2-EGFP plasmid, in glioma experimental models. NSCs slowly migrated towards glioma cells (C6 cells) in culture, although mouse embryonic fibroblasts 3T3 cells did not migrate. NSCs rapidly migrated to the tumor bed, and to tissues surrounding the tumor and metastatic lesions. A large number of EGFP-expressing cells formed distinct colonies in and surrounding the tumor following NSCs-EGFP transfection. EGFP-positive cells aggregated in incubation sites following 3T3-EGFP treatment. Results suggested that NSCs could be used to track tumor cells in vitro. In vivo, transplanted NSCs survived, expressed transfected exogenous genes, migrated to the tumor bed, and expressed exogenous genes.
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