Effect of liposomal transfection of hTERT on Apoptosis of newborn rat cochlear basilar membrane cells

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate the effect of transfected hTERT gene on cell apoptosis of newborn rat cochlear basilar membrane cells (CBMCs).MethodsCBMCs isolated from newborn rat cochlear were transfected using a plasmid containing human telomerase reverase transcriptase gene (pCI-neo-hTERT) , and were screened using G418 to obtain stable transfected cell lines. Cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry. hTERT and apoptosis related genes expression were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).ResultshTERT gene expression was detected 72 after gene transfection in transfected cells. The apoptotic rate of transfected CBMCs significantly reduced. Expression of apoptosis related genes correspondingly changed.ConclusionTransfection of hTERT gene leads to reduced apoptosis rate in newborn rat CBMCs.and lower expression of apaf1, Caspase3 and BCL2 in transfected cells as compared to that of normal CBMCs.