Alpha-fetoprotein triggers hepatoma cells escaping from immune surveillance through altering the expression of Fas／FasL and tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand and its receptor of lymphocytes and liver cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the mechanism ofα-fetoprotein (AFP) in escaping from the host immune surveillance of hepatoc-ellular carcinoma. METHODS: AFP purified from human umbilical blood was administrated into the cultured human lymphoma Jurkat T cell line or hepatoma cell line, Bel7402 in vitro. The expression of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its receptor (TRAILR) mRNA were analyzed by Northern blot and Western blot was used to detect the expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) protein. RESULTS: AFP (20 mg/L) could promote the expression of FasL and TRAIL, and inhibit the expression of Fas and TRAILR of Bel7402 cells. For Jurkat cell line, AFP could suppress the expression of FasL and TRAIL, and stimulate the expression of Fas and TRAILR. AFP also could synergize with Bel7402 cells to inhibit the expression of FasL protein and TRAIL mRNA in Jurkat cells. The monoclonal antibody against AFP (anti-AFP) could abolish these functions of AFP. CONCLUSION: AFP is able to promote the expression of FasL and TRAIL in hepatoma cells and enhance the expression of Fas and TRAILR in lymphocytes. These could elicit the escape of hepatocellular carcinoma cells from the host's lymphocytes immune surveillance.     

肺癌微环境中免疫细胞与肿瘤免疫逃逸相关研究进展

肺癌肿瘤局部浸润的免疫细胞、间质细胞及所分泌的活性介质等与肺癌细胞共同构成的局部内环境又被称之为肺癌微环境。肺癌微环境中浸润的免疫细胞参与了肺癌的疾病进展和免疫逃逸。本文对这一群细胞的浸润特征、功能和相互关系进行阐述,探讨其在肺癌发生发展过程中的作用。     

FasL基因表达与食管癌免疫逃逸关系的研究

目的研究食管癌细胞Fas配体（FasL）的表达情况及其与食管癌发生和预后间的关系。方法用免疫组化法，检测了40例食管癌原发灶和17例淋巴结转移灶中FasL在食管癌细胞及肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞（TiL）中的表达情况。结果34例（85％）原发性食管癌细胞中均有不同程度的FasL。的表达，31例（82．5％）TiL细胞FasL亦表达阳性，17例淋巴结转移灶癌细胞中，FasL均强阳性表达。结论食管癌细胞可能通过FasL的表达，杀伤TiL，以达到免疫逃逸及免疫反攻击，对食管癌的形成及转移具有重要的作用。     

FasL的表达在结直肠癌免疫逃逸中的意义

目的研究结直肠癌中Fas配体（FasL）的表达及其在结直肠癌免疫逃逸中的意义。方法采用免疫组织化学染色法，检测80例结直肠癌组织中FasL表达及肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞（TIL）的数量。应用原位杂交法，检测80例结直肠癌组织连续切片的FasL的。RNA的表达。采用脱氧核糖核酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记技术（TUNEL），对80例结直肠癌组织中凋亡的TIL及肿瘤细胞进行观察。结果80例结直肠癌组织FasL表达程度不等，不论是在同一组织切片不同部位或两组织切片间相比，FasL表达程度和范围都不均匀。FasL的mRNA的表达部位与FasL蛋白的表达部位相对应。FasL表达程度高的组织的TIL计数低于FasL表达低的组织（P〈0．05），同时其TIL凋亡指数高于FasL表达低的组织，而结直肠癌细胞的凋亡指数低于FasL表达程度低的组织（P〈0．01），TIL凋亡指数与胃癌细胞的凋亡指数呈负相关（r=-0．631，P〈0．01）。结论全占直肠癌细胞可通过表达FasL，诱导TIL发生凋亡，反击机体免疫系统，这可能是结直肠癌免疫逃避的重要机制之一。     

肝细胞癌患者肿瘤细胞和肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞Fas抗原与Fas配体表达的研究

为研究肝细胞癌患者肿瘤细胞、肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞Ｆａｓ抗原与ＦａｓＬ配体的表达水平,探讨Ｆａｓ系统在肝细胞癌免疫逃逸及免疫反击中的作用,采用间接免疫荧光流式细胞术检测２０例肝细胞癌患者肿瘤细胞、肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞和外周血淋巴细胞Ｆａｓ和ＦａｓＬ的表达。结果显示,肝细胞癌患者肿瘤细胞Ｆａｓ与ＦａｓＬ表达水平较自身非肿瘤肝细胞上调;肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞与自身外周血淋巴细胞相比,Ｆａｓ表达上调而ＦａｓＬ表达下调。     

下调XIAP表达增强化疗药物诱导胃癌细胞凋亡的作用

目的:观察下调X连锁凋亡抑制蛋白(XIAP)基因表达对胃癌细胞化疗敏感性的影响.方法:构建XIAP基因反义真核表达载体,稳定转染胃癌细胞株MKN-45,RT-PCR和Western blot法检测癌细胞XIAP基因表达.选用顺铂、丝裂霉素分别处理转染前后的胃癌细胞,采用MTT比色法、克隆形成抑制实验检测癌细胞体外生长活性:透射电镜、流式细胞术、TUNEL检测癌细胞凋亡及比率;Western blot和比色法检测细胞内caspase-3蛋白表达和活性水平.结果:RT-PCR和Western blot证实,稳定转染反义XIAP基因的胃癌细胞MKN-45的XIAP mRNA和蛋白表达水平分别降低84.75%(P<0.01)和89.75%(P<0.01),各浓度顺铂、丝裂霉素处理24 h后,转染反义XIAP基因的MKN-45细胞生长抑制率分别增加7.3%-25.3%(P<0.01),12.3%-16.3%(P<0.01).透射电镜下可见部分细胞发生典型的凋亡形态学改变,凋亡率分别为34.12%和32.5%,显著高于未转染对照组MKN-45细胞的凋亡率(14.2%,P<0.05).与MKN-45细胞比较,稳定转染反义XIAP基因的MKN-45细胞内caspase-3表达水平增高2.45倍(P<0.01),活性水平提高3.68倍(P<0.0 1).结论:通过反义RNA技术下调XIAP基因表达,能提高癌细胞中caspase-3的表达和活性,增强化疗药物对癌细胞的诱导凋亡作用.     

肝癌组织中凋亡调控因子Fas、FasL及caspase-3的表达及意义

目的：探讨凋亡调控因子Fas、FasL及caspase-3在肝细胞癌（HCC）组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法应用免疫组织化学SP法检测80例HCC患者肝癌组织及其相应癌旁正常肝组织中Fas、FasL及caspase-3的表达,并分析其表达与 HCC临床病理因素的相关性。结果 Fas、FasL及caspase-3在 HCC、癌旁组织中的表达比较,均差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。在TNM 分期（Ⅲ～Ⅳ期）、有门静脉癌栓、有淋巴结转移的肝癌组织中Fas 的阳性表达率明显降低（P＜0．05）;在病理分级（Ⅲ～Ⅳ级）、TNM分期（Ⅲ～Ⅳ期）、有门静脉癌栓、有淋巴结转移的肝癌组织中FasL的阳性表达率明显增高（P＜0．05）;在病理分级（Ⅲ～Ⅳ级）、TNM分期（Ⅲ～Ⅳ期）、有淋巴结转移的肝癌组织中 caspase-3的阳性表达率明显降低（P＜0．05）。80例 HCC患者肝癌组织中Fas、FasL与caspase-3的表达,两两之间并无明显关联性（狉＝0．057,P＞0．05）。结论 Fas/FasL系统的失衡及caspase-3低表达导致肝癌细胞凋亡障碍,在 HCC发生、发展及转移中起着重要作用。     

长片段RNA抑制HepG2.2.15细胞中HBV基因的表达和复制

目的 评估长的反义RNA干扰片段在培养细胞株中对HBV复制的抑制效应.方法将HBV基因组S区的全部核苷酸序列插入至pTARGETTM载体中,并将重组载体转染入HepG2.2.15细胞中.用酶联免疫吸附法检测HBsAg与HBeAg水平,用荧光定量PCR法检测HBVDNA水平.对数据采用多个独立样本Kruskal-Wallis检验与两两比较的Mann-Whitney U检验.结果 经过处理后,HepG2.2.15细胞上清液中HBsAg表达量(A值)在HBS2组(携带长片段反义RNA)为0.621±0.027,在HBS4组(携带正义RNA)为3.399±0.018,对照组为2.232±0.187;HBeAg表达量(A值)在HBS2组、HBS4组和对照组分别为0.749±0.019、1.548±0.025和1.570±0.044; HBV DNA水平(×104拷贝/ml)在HBS2组、HBS4组、对照组分别为1.597±0.082、3.381±0.297和3.610±0.063.与对照组相比,HBS2组HBsAg、HBeAg和HBV DNA表达量均降低,统计量Z值均为-2.309,P值均＜0.05; HBS4组HBsAg表达量增高(Z=-2.309,P＜0.05),而HBeAg和HBV DNA表达量无明显差异,统计量Z值分别为-0.866、-1.155,P值均＞0.05.结论 长片段反义RNA能抑制HBV基因的表达和病毒复制.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effects of long antisense RNA on HBV replication in HepG2.2.15 cells. Methods The coding region of HBV S gene was cloned into pTARGET vector in sense and antisense orientations and the recombinant plasmids were transfected into HepG2.2.15 cells which were divided into HBS2 (antisense RNA) group, HBS4 (sense RNA) group and control group. HBsAg and HBeAg in the culture supernant were detected by ELISA. The HBV DNA in the supernant was quantified by real-time PCR. Results After treatment, the levels of HBsAg in HepG2.2.15 cell supernatants of three groups were 0.621 ± 0.027, 3.399 ± 0.018 and 2.232 ± 0.187 respectively; the levels of HBeAg were 0.749 ± 0.019,1.548 ± 0.025 and 1.570 ± 0.044 respectively and the levels of HBV DNA were 1.597 ± 0.082, 3.381 ± 0.297 and 3.610 ± 0.063 respectively. The expressions of HBsAg and HBeAg and the HBV DNA level in HBS2 group were remarkably reduced as compared to the control (Z = -2.309, P ＜ 0.05); whereas the sense plasmid transfection (HBS4) did not affect HBeAg (Z= -0.866) and HBV DNA (Z = -1.155) levels in the culture supernant but slightly increased the HBsAg level (Z = -2.309). Conclusion Antisense RNA might be a useful tool to repress HBV replication.     

Role of cytokines in promoting immune escape of FasL-expressing human colon cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the potential role of cytokines in promoting Fas ligand (FasL)-expressing colon cancer cells. METHODS: Immunohistochemical SABC method was used to observe the expression of Fas receptor and ligand in SW620 colon cancer cell line and Jurkat T cells in order to provide the morphological evidence for the functions of Fas receptor and ligand. To examine the cytotoxicity of effector cells, CytoTox96 non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay was adopted to measure the lactate dehydrogenase-releasing value after SW620 cells were co-cultured with Jurkat T lymphocytes. RESULTS: The FasL of colon cancer SW620 cells was positive. The positive substances were distributed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. The Fas receptor of colon cancer SW620 cells was negative. The Fas receptor and ligand of Jurkat T lymphocytes turned out to be positive. The positive substances were distributed in the cell membrane. After phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated Jurkat T lymphocytes were co-cultured with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-plus-ionomycin-stimulated (for 48 h) SW620 cells or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-stimulated (for 48 h) SW620 cells or unstimulated SW620 cells for 4 h, the cytotoxicity of SW620 cells to PHA-stimulated Jurkat cells at effector-to-target ratios of 10:1, 5:1, 2.5:1, and 1.25:1 was 74.6%, 40.8%, 32.4%, and 10.9% (F= 8.19, P<0.05); or 54.9%, 35.3%, 22.0%, and 10.3% (F= 11.12, P<0.05); or 14.9%, 10.5%, 6.9%, and 5.8% (F = 3.45, P<0.05). After PHA-stimulated Jurkat T lymphocytes were co-cultured with unstimulated SW620 cells for 8 h, the cytotoxicity of SW620 cells to PHA-stimulated Jurkat cells at effector-to-target ratios of 5:1, 2.5:1, and 1.25:1 from the experiment was 83.9%, 74.1%, and 28.5% (F=137.04, P<0.05) respectively. Non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay showed that the apoptotic rate of Jurkat cells remarkably increased with the increase of planting concentration of SW620 cells and co-culture time after the SW620 cells were co-cultured with the Jurkat T lymphocytes. The cytotoxicity was significantly enhanced by PMA+ionomycin or TNF-α. CONCLUSION: The FasL expressed in human colon cancer cells may be regulated by endogenous factors in the microenvironment of the host and facilitate the escape of tumor cells from the host immune system.     

靶向cyclinE小干扰RNA对肝癌HepG2细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的:以cyclinE基因编码区为靶位,构建表达小干扰RNA(siRNA)的质粒载体,观察转染后对HepG2细胞的影响.方法:针对cyclinE基因序列构建表达siRNA的真核表达载体pSilencer3.1-H1hygro,利用脂质体Metafectene转染CyclinE基因高表达的肝癌细胞株HepG2.流式细胞仪检测细胞周期及凋亡率,MTT法检测细胞增殖活性,RT-PCR和Western blot法观察转染后细胞cyclinE基因表达.结果:成功构建了表达siRNA的真核质粒载体,转染后cyclinE基因mRNA及蛋白表达水平分别下降了79%和65%.结论:靶向cyclinE基因的siRNA可有效沉默HepG2细胞高表达的cyclinE基因,从而抑制肝癌细胞的增殖并促进凋亡.     

Action and mechanism of Fas and Fas ligand in immune escape of gallbladder carcinoma

AIM: To study the role of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in biological behaviors of gallbladder carcinoma, and their correlated action and mechanism in tumor escape. METHODS: Streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemistry technique was used to study the expression of Fas and FasL protein in 26 gallbladder carcinoma tissues, 18 gallbladder adenoma tissues, 3 gallbladder dysplasia tissues and 20 chronic cholecystitis tissues. Apoptosis of the infiltrating lymphocytes in these tissues was studied by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. Expression of both proteins and apoptosis of the tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in cancer tissues of primary foci was compared with clinicopathological features of gallbladder carcinoma. RESULTS: The positive rates of Fas were not significantly different among carcinoma, adenoma, dysplasia and chronic cholecystitis. The positive rate of FasL in carcinoma was significantly higher than that in chronic cholecystitis (X^2= 4.89, P&lt;0.05). The apoptotic index (AI) in carcinoma was significantly higher than that in adenoma (t‘= 4.19, P=&lt;0.01) and chronic cholecystitis (t‘= 8.06, P=&lt;0.01). The AI was significantly lower in well-differentiated carcinoma and Nevin Ⅰ-Ⅲ carcinoma than that in poorly-differentiated carcinoma (t‘= 2.63, P=&lt;0.05) and Nevin Ⅳ-Ⅴ carcinoma (t‘= 3.33, P&lt;0.01). The confidence interval (CI) of infiltrating lymphooltes in adenoma, chronic cholecystitis, well-differentiated carcinoma and Nevin Ⅰ-Ⅲ carcinoma was very significantly lower than that in carcinoma (t‘ = 6.99, P&lt;0.01), adenoma (t‘ = 3.66, P&lt;0.01), poorly-differentiated carcinoma (t‘ = 5.31, P&lt;0.01) and Nevin Ⅳ-Ⅴ carcinoma (t‘ = 3.76, P&lt;0.01), respectively. The CI of apoptosis of infiltrating lymphocytes in well-differentiated carcinoma was significantly lower than that in poorly-differentiated carcinoma (t = 2.52, P&lt;0.05), and was not significantly lower in Nevin Ⅰ-Ⅲ carcinoma than in Nevin Ⅳ-Ⅴ carcinoma (t = 1.42, P&gt;0.05). Apoptosis of infiltrating lymphocytes was not discovered in adenoma and chronic cholecystitis. CONCLUSION: FasL expressed in gallbladder carcinoma cells permits tumor cells to escape from immune surveillance of organism by inducing apoptosis in infiltrating lymphocytes of carcinoma tissues. Up-regulation of FasL expression plays an important role in invasive depth, histological classification and metastasis of gallbladder carcinoma.     

甲胎蛋白启动子介导反义乙型肝炎病毒X基因在肝癌细胞中的表达及其作用

目的 构建含甲胎蛋白(AFP)启动子和增强子的反义乙型肝炎病毒X基因(HBX)真核表达载体，研究其特异性和有效性，为开发肝癌细胞特异性HBX反义RNA基因治疗乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)奠定基础。方法 聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增HBX(1370—1872nt)基因，克隆至EB病毒表达载体，双轮PCR筛选、鉴定基因插入方向。脂质体转染肝癌细胞和ECV304细胞，Northernblot检测HBX mRNA的表达，酶联免疫试验(ELISA)检测HBV抗原，荧光定量PCR检测HBV DNA。结果 成功构建正、反义RNA表达载体pEBAF—s—HBX、pEBAF—as—HBX。Northernblot证实反义RNA仅在AFP阳性的肝癌细胞中表达。pEBAF—as—HBX转染3d后，可显著抑制2．2．15细胞HBV复制和抗原表达，其HBsAg、HBeAg抗原表达较正义对照分别下降37．9％和36．8％，HBV DNA降低25％。结论 反义RNA表达载体pEBAF—as—HBX仅在肝癌细胞中特异表达、并可有效抑制HBV，有良好的开发应用前景。     

Fas ligand expression in colon cancer： A possible mechanism of tumor immune privilege

AIM: To detect the expression of Fas ligand (FasL) in colon cancer tissues and cell lines and analyze the function of FasL-expressing colon cancer cells in inducing Fas-sensitive T lymphocyte apoptosis. METHODS: Ninety surgically resected colon cancer tissues and 15 hepatic metastasis specimens were investigated by immunohistochemical method with normal colon mucosa and colon adenoma as control. The relationship between FasL expression and pathologic features was also analyzed. FasL expression of 4 colon cancer cell lines, SW620, Lovo, LS-174T and SW1116, were detected by Western blotting assay. The function of FasL expressed on colon cancer cells was determined by coculture assay with Jurkat T lymphocytes, the apoptotic rate of which was detected by flow cytometry assay. RESULTS: Fifty-six (62.22%) cases of all the 90 colon cancer tissues and all (100%) the liver metastasis specimens expressed FasL, significantly higher than normal colon mucosa and colonic adenoma. Higher expression of FasL was found in more advanced stage of colon cancer and in cancer tissues with lymphatic or hepatic metastasis. All the colon cancer cell lines were found to express FasL. After coculture with the SW1116 cells for 24 h with an effector: target ratio 10:1, the rate of apoptosis of Jurkat cells rose from 1.9% to 21.0%. CONCLUSION: The expression of FasL is upregulated in colon cancer and the functionally expressed FasL can induce apoptosis of Fas-expressing T lymphocytes.     

Heat-shocked tumor cell lysate-pulsed dendritic cells induce effective anti-tumor immune response in vivo

AIM:To study whether heat-shocked tumor cells couldenhance the effect of tumor cell lysate-pulsed dendriticcells(DCs)in evoking anti-tumor immune response invivo.METHODS:Mouse undifferentiated colon cancer cells(CT-26)were heated at 42℃ for 1h and then frozen-thawed.The bone marrow-derived DCs pulsed with heat-shocked CT-26 cell lysate(HSCT-26 DCs)were recruitedto immunize syngeneic na(?)ve BALB/c mice.The cytotoxicactivity of tumor specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs)in mouse spleen was evaluated by IFN-enzyme-linkedimmunospot(ELISpot)and LDH release assay.Theimmunoprophylactic effects induced by HSCT-26 DCsin mouse colon cancer model were compared to thoseinduced by single CT-26 cell lysate-pulsed DCs(CT-26DCs)on tumor volume,peritoneal metastasis andsurvival time of the mice.RESULTS:Heat-treated CT-26 cells showed a higherhsp70 protein expression.Heat-shocked CT-26 cell lysatepulsing elevated the co-stimulatory and MHC-II moleculeexpression of bone marrow-derived DCs as well asinterleukin-12 p70 secretion.The IFN-γ secreting CTLsinduced by HSCT-26 DCs were significantly more thanthose induced by CT-26 DCs(P=0.002).The formerCTLs'specific cytotoxic activity was higher than the latterCTLs'at a serial E/T ratio of 10:1,20:1,and 40:1.Mousecolon cancer model showed that the tumor volumeof HSCT-26 DC vaccination group was smaller thanthat of CT-26 DC vaccination group on tumor volumethough there was no statistical difference between them (24 mm~3 vs 8 mm~3,P=0.480).The median survival timeof mice immunized with HSCT-26 DCs was longer thanthat of those immunized with CT-26 DCs(57 d vs 43 d,P=0.0384).CONCLUSION:Heat-shocked tumor cell lysate-pulsedDCs can evoke anti-tumor immune response in vivoeffectively and serve as a novel DC-based tumor vaccine.     

The Retrovirus-mediated Antisense Human Telomerase RNA (hTR) Gene Limits the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth in Cell Culture and Animals

Aim To investigate the inhibitory effect of retrovirus-mediated antisense human telomerase RNA (hTR) gene therapy on hepatocelluar carcinoma. Methods We first constructed the sense and antisense hTR vectors and then transfected these into HepG2 cells. Telomerase activity, cell growth curves, proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression (PCNA), cell cycle distribution, and cell apoptosis were detected by the means of telemere repeat amplification protocol (TRAP), MTT assay, immunofluorescence, flow cytometric analysis, and transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL), respectively. In order to further confirm the therapeutic effect of this gene therapy, we developed an experimental line of HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice by and directly injected these with retrovirus expressing the antisense hTR gene. Tumor growth was determined by tumor volume, and cell apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL. Results The antisense hTR gene was shown to be successfully integrated into the target cells’ genome. HepG2 cells transfected with the antisense hTR gene showed down-regulated telomerase activity, inhibited cell growth, decreased PCNA expression, and increased apoptotic rate. Moreover, flow cytometry revealed a decrease of cells in the S phase with cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. In the antisense hTR-treated group, tumor growth was significantly reduced and showed an increase of apoptotic cells. Conclusion The results indicate that the specific inhibitor of the hTR template is likely to be a very efficient tool for hepatocellular carcinoma research and may possess potential therapeutic significance in the future clinical practice.     

Knockdown of survivin gene expression by RNAi induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721

AIM: To investigate the survivin gene expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 and the effects of survivin gene RNA interference (RNAi) on cell apoptosis and biological behaviors of SMMC-7721 cells. METHODS: Eukaryotic expression vector of survivin gene RNAi and recombinant plasmid pSuppressorNeo-survivin (pSuNeo-SW), were constructed by ligating into the vector, pSupperssorNeo (pSuNeo) digested with restriction enzymes Xba I and Sail and the designed double-chain RNAi primers. A cell model of SMMC-7721 after treatment with RNAi was prepared by transfecting SMMC-7721 cells with the lipofectin transfection method. Strept-avidin-biotin-complex (SABC) immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR were used to detect survivin gene expressions in SMMC-7721 cells. Flow cytometry was used for the cell cycle analysis. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to determine whether RNAi induced cell apoptosis, and the method of measuring the cell growth curve was utilized to study the growth of SMMC-7721 cells before and after treatment with RNAi. RESULTS: The eukaryotic expression vector of survivin gene RNAi and pSuNeo-SW, were constructed successfully. The expression level of survivin gene in SMMC-7721 cells was observed. After the treatment of RNAi, the expression of survivin gene in SMMC-7721 cells was almost absent, apoptosis index was increased by 15.6%, and the number of cells was decreased in G2/M phase and the cell growth was inhibited. CONCLUSION: RNAi can exert a knockdown of survivin gene expression in SMMC-7721 cells, and induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of carcinoma cells.     

短发夹状RNA对人肝癌细胞环氧合酶-2的抑制作用

目的:构建针对人环氧合酶-2(COX-2)基因编码区的短发夹状RNA(shRNA)真核表达载体质粒,观察其在不同时间点对人不同肝癌细胞株COX-2表达的影响.方法:以人COX-2mRNA编码区作为RNA干扰靶点,构建shRNA真核表达载体质粒WBH1和WBH2,应用阳离子脂质体分别转染人肝癌细胞株HepG2和Bel7402,利用逆转录聚合酶链反应和Westernblot法分别观察两株细胞转染后24,48,72,和96hCOX-2mRNA和蛋白的表达变化,检测抑制效果.结果:质粒在HepG2细胞和Bel7402细胞中的转染率分别约为60%和54%.WBH1导入细胞24,48,72和96h后,逆转录聚合酶链反应检测COX-2mRNA表达抑制率,HepG2细胞分别为18.5%,88.6%,52.8%和42.4%(P<0.01).Bel7402细胞分别为9%,45.1%,70.1%和56.3%(P<0.01).Westernblot法检测蛋白表达抑制率,HepG2细胞分别为10.3%,80.5%,45.3%和39.0%(P<0.01);Bel7402细胞分别为8.3%,40.2%,66.4%和35.6%(P<0.01).质粒WBH2对COX-2的表达无影响(P>0.05).结论:针对人COX-2的shRNA能高效特异的抑制不同肝癌细胞株的COX-2表达.HepG2细胞和Bel7402细胞分别以48h和72h抑制效果最明显.56.3%(P<0.01).Westernblot法检测蛋白表达抑制率,HepG2细胞分别为10.3%,80.5%,45.3%和39.0%(P<0.01);Bel7402细胞分别为8.3%,40.2%,66.4%和35.6%(P<0.01).质粒WBH2对COX-2的表达无影响(P>0.05).结论:针对人COX-2的shRNA能高效特异的抑制不同肝癌细胞株的COX-2表达.HepG2细胞和Bel7402细胞分别以48h和72h抑制效果最明显.     

Inhibitory effect of antisense vascular endothelial growth factor RNA on the profile of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line in vitro and in vivo

AIM:To evaluate the effect of antisense vascularendothelial growth factor(VEGF)RNA(PCMV-FGEV)transfection on the profile of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and in vivo.METHODS:SMMC-7721 cells were transfectedwith PCMV-FGEV antisense,PCMV-VEGF sense andempty vector plasmid encapsulated by lipofectamineas antisense group,sense group and control grouprespectively.The positive cell clones were selectedwith G418.The stable transfection and expressionof VEGF in the cells were determined by RT-PCR andimmunohistochemistry.Cell proliferation was observedby MTT assay.FACS analysis was used to determine theeffect of PCMV-FGEV transfection on cell apoptosis.Thegrowth of transfected cells in Wvo was also observed innude mice.RESULTS:VEGF expression was reduced in SMMC-7721transfected with PCMV-FGEV,which was confirmed byRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.No effect of PCMV-FGEV transfection was found on cell proliferation andcell apoptosis of SMMC-7721 in vitro.The growth of cellstransfected with PCMV-FGEV was slow in nude miceand accompanied with obvious apoptosis.The latenttime of tumors in the antisense group was 25.0±1.8d,which was longer than that in sense and controlgroups(F=19.455,P<0.01).The average tumor weightin antisense group(0.96 g±0.28 g)was the smallestamong the three groups(F=21.501,P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The expression of VEGF can be inhibitedby antisense PCMV-FGEV.Antisense PCMV-FGEV has no effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis of SMMC-7721in vitro but can inhibit tumor growth and induce cellapoptosis in vivo.