[Cloning and eukaryotic expression of murine beta-defensin-2(mBD-2)].

AIM: To clone murine beta defensin-2 gene (mBD2) and to express the mBD2 protein eukaryotically.

METHODS: Total RNA was isolated from the lungs of BALB/c mice which were injected with LPS in advance. The DNA fragment encoding mBD2 was amplified by RT-PCR and inserted into the plasmid pcDNA3.1(+), which was then digested with EcoR I and Xho I to construct the recombinant plasmid, pcDNA3.1(+)/mBD2. The pcDNA3.1(+)/mBD2 was identified by endonuclease digestion, PCR, and sequencing analysis. The SiHa cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)/mBD2 plasmid and screened by G418 of 100 mg/L over 20 days. Steady expression of mBD2 was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining and RT-PCR.

RESULTS: About 250 bp DNA fragment was amplified by RT-PCR from lung total RNA of the mice injected with LPS. The eukaryotic expression vector, pcDNA3.1(+)/mBD2, was successfully constructed after inserting the mBD2 fragment into pcDNA3.1(+). Most of SiHa cells transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)/mBD2 and screened by G418 could express the mBD2 protein, confirmed by immunofluorescent staining and RT-PCR.

CONCLUSION: The eukaryotic vector of pcDNA3.1(+)/mBD2 was successfully constructed and transfected into SiHa cells, which established a solid foundation for further study on the biological characteristics and anti-tumor mechanisms of the mBD2 protein.