Objective: To investigate the effects of recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and hyaluronic acid (HA) on the invasion and metastasis of rat brain glioma in vivo.
Methods: C6 rat glioma cells were transfected with the plasmid vector named pEGFP-N3 which contained an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene. The stable cell clones which expressed EGFP protein were stereotactically injected into the brain parenchyma of SD rats in order to establish a xenotransplanted tumor model. After rhBMP-2 and HA were administered in the xenotransplanted tumor model at different dosages, their effects on glioma invasion and metastasis were observed by pathology, flow cytometry fluoresclnec, and electronmicvoscopy.
Results: EGFP-transfected C6 glioma cells gave off green fluorescence in vivo and in vitro. Area with tumor and area without tumor could be easily distinguished by fluorescence microscopy. Even distant micrometastasis and invasion at single-cell level could be detected. 10 microliter rhBMP-2 of the concentration of 5 microgram/ml inhibited C6 tumor invasion, while 10 microliter hyaluronic acid of the concentration of 100 microgram/ml evidently promoted the tumor invasion.
Conclusion: EGFP-transfected C6 cells can be transplanted into rats' brain so as to establish an excellent experimental animal model in the research on invasion and metastasis of brain glioma in vivo. RhBMP-2 inhibits tumor invasion, while HA evidently promotes its invasion.