EXOGENOUS GENE EXPRESSION OF BONE MARROW STROMAL CELLS AND THEIR DIFFERENTIATION INTO ADIPOCYTES

Objective: To investigate the long-term culture conditions of bone marrow stromal cells, their efficacy of expressing exogenous gene and their ability to differentiate into adipocytes. Methods: Cells were cultured routinely, undifferentialed cells were identified with immunocytochemistry and were induced to differentiate into adipocytes by N2 medium. Ad5 B gal was applied to test their capacity of cepressing foreign gene. Results: A population of bone marrow stromal cells could be isolated from adult rat bone marrow. They were processed to obtain a fibroblast-like population of cells and could be maintained in vitro for extended periods with stable population doubling, and were expanded as undifferentiated cells in culture for more than 10 passages, and they could be differentiated into adipocytes by N2 medium. Conclusions: Bone marrow stromal cells could be expanded in vitro stably. They were capable of expressing foreign gene and were the ideal cell sources for gene therapy. They could differentiate and adipocytes and represent an altemative autologous stem cell source for plastic surgery.