[Therapeutical effect of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on rat retinal degenerative diseases].

Objective To investigate the potential of the treatment of growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) gene-modified bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods BMSCs were isolated and cultured by adherence method. By transfecting GAP43 gene into BMSCs via a lentivirus vector, we got GAP43 gene-modified BMSCs. Sixty-three Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats were randomly divided into three groups: experimental group, negative control group and blank control group. The experimental rats received subretinal injection of GAP43 gene-modified BMSCs. The negative control rats received subretinal injection of BMSCs. The control rats received subretinal injection of PBS. Thirty days after transplanting, the retinal thickness was detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and the expression of rhodopsin in RCS rat retinas was examined by Western blotting. Results Compared with the blank control group and the negative control group, 30 days after GAP43 gene-modified BMSC transplantation, the retinal thickness of the experimental group remarkably increased and the expression of rhodopsin significantly rose. Conclusion GAP43 gene-modified BMSC transplantation can increase survival photoreceptor cells and delay retinal degeneration.