Objective:To investigate the feasibility of human VEGF165 gene transfection into endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from human peripheral blood,and the influence of transfusion on EPCs.
Methods:EPCs were isolated from human peripheral blood, cultured in vitro，identified by FITC-UEA-I and Dil-ac-LDL. EPCs was transfected with pcDNA3.1-hVEGF165 by liposomal，with  pcDNA3.1 by liposomal and EPCs without transfection. After transfection, the expression of VEGF and NO in culture supernatants were detected by using ELISA and nitrate reductase method.The proliferation of EPCs after gene transfection was detected by MTT methods.
Results:Cells that expressed double FITC-UEA-I and Dil-ac-LDL fluorescence were EPCs.The expression of VEGF and NO in the medium of EPCs transfected with pcDNA 3.1-hVEGF165 was obviously more than that in the other two transfected groups(P＜0.01). No influence of EPCs proliferation could be found after transfection.
Conclusions:EPCs from human peripheral blood can be successfully transfected with VEGF165 gene, and can express a certain concentration of VEGF protein and promote the secretion of NO，but no influence of EPCs proliferation. This provides experimental evidence for further study of the combined treatment of VEGF165 gene and EPCs for ischemic disease.