Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) transfected adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs FGF1) promote angiogenic proliferation

To investigate the effects of fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) transfected rat adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs FGF1), for the first time, on ?broblast (NIH-3T3 cells) proliferation and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) tube formation to provide a theoretical evidence of mutual benefits of an episomal plasmid FGF1 vector combined with AD-MSCs. Rat AD-MSCs were isolated and characterized by flow cytometry which were positive for mesenchymal (CD29, CD90) and negative for hematopoietic (CD34, CD45) surface CD markers. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiations of AD-MSCs were both positive. AD-MSCs were transfected by pCMV6-Entry plasmid vector for rat FGF1. The presence of FGF1 in the conditioned medium from the AD-MSCs FGF1 was confirmed by Western blotting on the sixth day post-transfection. Following treatment with the AD-MSCs FGF1 conditioned medium, the NIH-3T3 cells proliferation and HUVECs tube formation were significantly increased as compared to conditioned medium from non-transfected AD-MSCs (p < 0.001 for both). In conclusion, rat AD-MSCs transfected with FGF1 were efficient in secreting functional FGF1 which promotes ?broblast proliferation and HUVECs tube formation. AD-MSCs FGF1 may provide a useful strategy in cell therapy which can merge the beneficial effects of stem cells with the positive biological effects of FGF1 in some circumstances including cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disorders.