Objective: To compare the transfection efficiency of electroporation and chemical transfection agents in multidrug-resistant (MDR) gastric cancer cells.
Methods: MDR gastric cancer SGC7901/VCR cells were transfected with plasmids bearing tumor suppressor gene WTX through electroporation method and two chemical agents (Lipofectamine2000 and Attractene), respectively. Then, the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and the WTX mRNA in the cells after transfection were examined.
Results: Results of eGFP analysis showed that in SGC7901/VCR cells compared with the parental non-drug-resistant SGC7901 cells, the transection efficiencies of both chemical methods were significantly decreased (both P<0.05), but the transfection efficiency of electroporation exhibited no significant decrease (P>0.05), which was significantly higher than that of either chemical agent (both P<0.05). Results of RT-PCR showed that the WTX mRNA expression level in SGC7901/VCR cells undergoing electroporation transfection was significantly higher than that in those transfected by the two chemical agents (both P<0.05).
Conclusion: In MDR gastric cancer cells, electroporation transfection will not be influenced easily by their cell membrane components, and can maintain its transfection efficiency.