Attenuation of Telomerase Activity by siRNA Targeted Telomerase RNA Leads to Apoptosis and Inhibition of Proliferation in Human Renal Carcinoma Cells

OBJECTIVE Telomerase is an attractive molecular target for cancer therapy because the activation of telomerase is one of the key steps in cell immortalization and carcinogenesis. RNA interference using small-interfering RNA (siRNA) has been demonstrated to be an effective method for inhibiting the expression of a given gene in human cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether inhibition of telomerase activity by siRNA targeted against human telomerase RNA (hTR) can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptotic cell death in human renal carcinoma cells (HRCCs). METHODS The siRNA duplexes for hTR were synthesized and 786-0 HRCCs were transfected with different concentrations of hTR-siRNA. The influence on the hTR mRNA level, telomerase activity, as well as the effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis was examined. RESULTS Anti-hTR siRNA treatment of HRCCs resulted in specific reduction of hTR mRNA and inhibition of telomerase activity. Additionally, significant inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis were observed. CONCLUSION siRNA against the hTR gene can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis by blocking telomerase activity of HRCCs. Specific hTR inhibition by siRNA represents a promising new option for renal cancer treatment.     

Rapid blockade of telomerase activity and tumor cell growth by the DPL lipofection of ribbon antisense to hTR

Ribbon antisense (RiAS) to the hTR RNA, a component of the telomerase complex, was employed to inhibit telomerase activity and cancer cell growth. The antisense molecule, hTR-RiAS, combined with enhanced cellular uptake was shown to effectively inhibit telomerase activity and cause rapid cell death in various cancer cell lines. When cancer cells were treated with hTR-RiAS, the level of hTR RNA was reduced by more than 90% accompanied with reduction in telomerase activity. When checked for cancer cell viability, cancer cell lines treated with hTR-RiAS using DNA+Peptide+Lipid complex showed 70-80% growth inhibition in 3 days. The reduced cell viability was due to apoptosis as the percentage of cells exhibiting the sub-G0 arrest and DNA fragmentation increased after antisense treatment. Further, when subcutaneous tumors of a colon cancer cell line (SW480) were treated intratumorally with hTR-RiAS, tumor growth was markedly suppressed with almost total ablation of hTR RNA in the tumor tissue. Cells in the tumor tissue were also found to undergo apoptosis after hTR-RiAS treatment. These results suggest that hTR-RiAS is an effective anticancer reagent, with a potential for broad efficacy to diverse malignant tumors.     

Delivering antisense telomerase RNA by a hybrid adenovirus/ adeno-associated virus significantly suppresses the malignant phenotype and enhances cell apoptosis of human breast cancer cells

Activated telomerase is frequently detected in cancer cells and is able to maintain and stabilize the integrity of telomeres; it also contributes to unlimited divisions in cancer cells. Recently, a new generation of selective anticancer strategies is under development targeting the blockage of telomerase activity either at the protein level or telomerase RNA. Here, we report suppression of the malignant phenotype by the expression of the full-length antisense human telomerase RNA (hTR) delivered by a novel hybrid vector recombining adenovirus and adeno-associated virus (vAd-AAV). The hybrid vector vAd-AAV retained the unique traits from two parental viruses, such as high efficiency of gene transfer in mammalian cells and the ability to integrate into the genomic DNA of host cells. The stable expression of antisense hTR in MCF-7 cells significantly suppressed telomerase activity and progressively shortened telomere length for 30 population doublings (PD30). Expression of antisense hTR leads to a telomere-based growth arrest and the induction of spontaneous apoptosis. Antisense hTR decreased soft agar colony formation and reduced the cell proliferation, leading to exit from the cell cycle at G1 at PD15. The expression of antisense hTR also sensitized MCF-7 cells to apoptosis induced by sodium butyrate or serum starvation. Our study demonstrates that delivering antisense hTR by the hybrid Ad/AAV vector is an effective antineoplastic gene therapeutic strategy, which significantly suppresses the malignant phenotype and enhances apoptosis of human breast cancer cells.     

Treatment of prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo with 2-5A-anti-telomerase RNA component

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy of elderly men in the United States. Since there is no curative treatment for advanced prostate cancer, exploration of novel modalities of treatment is essential. Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein, is detected in the vast majority of prostate cancer, but not in normal or benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues. Thus, telomerase is expected to be a very strong candidate for targeted therapy of prostate cancer. In this study, we synthesized a 19-mer antisense oligonucleotide against the RNA component of human telomerase (hTR) linked to a 2-5A molecule (2-5A-anti-hTR) and examined its cytotoxic effect on prostate cancer cells. The 2-5A antisense strategy relies on the recruitment and activation of RNase L at the site of targeted RNA sequence. We here show that treatment with 2-5A-anti-hTR in the presence of a cationic liposome reduced cell viability of tumor cell lines tested to 9-18% within 6 days. In contrast, normal fibroblast cells were resistant to the treatment. Its effect was mainly due to induction of apoptosis by activated caspase family members. Furthermore, treatment of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice with 2-5A-anti-hTR significantly suppressed the tumor growth through induction of apoptosis (P<0.001). The treatment with 2-5A-anti-hTR may be a promising strategy for the treatment modality of prostate cancer with telomerase activity.     

RNA干扰对肾癌细胞端粒酶活性及增殖、凋亡的影响

目的 探讨针对人端粒酶RNA（hTR）及其催化亚基（hTERT）的小干扰RNA（siRNA）对肾癌细胞端粒酶活性及其增殖、凋亡的影响。方法 将hTR-siRNA、hTERT-siRNA（100nmol／L）单独或联合转染人肾癌786—0细胞,采用RT-PCR法检测hTR、hTERT mRNA表达,TRAP-ELISA法检测端粒酶活性,MTT法检测细胞增殖,免疫组化TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡。结果 （1）hTR-siRNA可显著降低786—0细胞hTR mRNA表达（P〈0．01）,hTERT-siRNA可显著降低hTERT mRNA表达（P〈0．01）,但彼此互不影响。（2）二者均能显著抑制端粒酶活性（P〈0．01,P〈0．01）,并增加786—0细胞增殖抑制率及凋亡细胞阳性率（P〈0．01,P〈0．01）。二者联合应用与单独应用差异亦无显著性（P〉0．05）。结论 hTR、hTERT siRNA通过抑制各自基因表达,抑制人肾癌细胞端粒酶活性,进而抑制增殖、促进凋亡。     

Combination therapy of 2-5A antisense against telomerase RNA and cisplatin for malignant gliomas

2',5'-Oligoadenylate (2-5A) linked to an antisense oligonucleotide against human telomerase RNA (2-5A-anti-hTR) is a novel therapeutic modality we have recently developed. We designed the oligonucleotide to target telomerase which maintains chromosome integrity in cancer cells. We have already demonstrated the efficacy of this new therapy in malignant glioma cells with telomerase activity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of 2-5A-anti-hTR in combination with cisplatin, an anti-cancer drug commonly used for malignant glioma patients. Six human malignant glioma cell lines with telomerase activity were treated with 0.5 microM 2-5A-anti-hTR and/or cisplatin (0, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, or 20 microg/ml) for three days, and cell viability was measured using the MTT colorimetric assay. The combination therapy showed synergistic effect at 1 microg/ml cisplatin and additive effect at 5 microg/ml cisplatin. TUNEL staining of the treated cells showed significantly increased apoptotic cells after the combination therapy. Furthermore, tumor growth of subcutaneous xenografts of human malignant glioma cells in nude mice was effectively reduced after the combination therapy for seven days. Our study shows that the tumor-killing effects of the combined treatments are, at least in part, due to induction of apoptosis. 2-5A-anti-hTR is a promising therapy not only when used alone, but also in combination with cisplatin.     

hTR基因反义核酸对K562细胞端粒酶活性和凋亡的影响

目的: 研究人类端粒酶(hTR)基因的反义核酸对K562细胞端粒酶活性和细胞凋亡的影响.方法:采用TRAP法检测K562细胞在反义核酸处理前后端粒酶活性的变化,以及采用TUNEL法观察反义核酸处理前后细胞凋亡的变化.结果:hTR基因反义核酸能有效抑制K562细胞的端粒酶活性,并且诱导K562细胞发生凋亡.结论:hTR基因反义核酸能显著抑制肿瘤细胞的端粒酶活性,为恶性肿瘤治疗提供了一条新的有效的途径.     

端粒酶基因和抗凋亡基因bcl-2在肺组织中的表达研究

 目的　研究肺癌端粒酶基因和bcl 2的关系 ,以期阐明端粒酶基因及抗凋亡基因对端粒酶的调控机理。方法　采用TRAP、RT PCR及LSAB的方法研究了肺癌端粒酶活性、hTR、hTERT及bcl 2的表达。结果　 82 .3%的肺癌组织表达端粒酶阳性 ,38例癌组织中 ,34例表达hTR (89.4 % ) ,36例表达hTERT(94 .7% )。而在相应的癌旁组织中 ,34例表达hTR ,但只有 3例表达hTERT(7.8% )。结论　肺癌组织中具有较高的端粒酶活性 ,在肿瘤组织和正常组织中hTERT的表达有显著的差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。hTR在正常组织和肿瘤组织均有较高的表达 ,bcl 2的表达与端粒酶基因有着较高的相关性。     

Attenuation of telomerase activity by hammerhead ribozyme targeting human telomerase RNA induces growth retardation and apoptosis in human breast tumor cells

Ribozyme possesses specific endoribonuclease activity and catalyzes the hydrolysis of specific phosphodiester bonds, which results in the cleavage of target RNA sequences. Here, we evaluated the ability of hammerhead ribozymes targeting human telomerase RNA (hTR) to inhibit the catalytic activity of telomerase and the proliferation of cancer cells. Hammerhead ribozymes were designed against 7 NUX sequences located in open loops of the hTR secondary structure. We verified the ribozyme specificity by in vitro cleavage assay by using a synthetic RNA substrate. Subsequently, we introduced ribozyme expression vector into human breast tumor MCF-7 cells and assessed the biologic effects of ribozyme. Hammerhead ribozyme R1 targeting the template region of hTR efficiently cleaved hTR in vitro, and stable transfectants of this ribozyme induced the degradation of target hTR RNA and attenuated telomerase activity in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the ribozyme R1 transfectant displayed a significant telomere shortening and a lower proliferation rate than parental cells. Clones with reduced proliferation capacity showed enlarged senescence-like shapes or highly differentiated dendritic morphologies of apoptosis. In conclusion, the inhibition of telomerase activity by hammerhead ribozyme targeting the template region of the hTR presents a promising strategy for inhibiting the growth of human breast cancer cells.     

Simultaneous targeting of telomeres and telomerase as a cancer therapeutic approach

Telomeres, which are important for maintaining chromosome integrity and functions, shorten with each cell division. Telomerase, responsible for telomere synthesis, is expressed in approximately 90% of human tumor cells but seldom in normal somatic cells. This study evaluated the hypothesis that simultaneous shortening of telomeres and inhibition of telomerase results in synergistic and tumor-selective cytotoxicity. In telomerase-positive human pharynx FaDu tumor cells, paclitaxel caused telomere erosion (first detected at 1 h) and apoptosis. Expression of antisense to the RNA component of human telomerase (hTR) inhibited telomerase activity, shortened telomere length, reduced cell growth rate, and resulted in a significant higher sensitivity to paclitaxel. Another telomerase inhibitor, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), at a concentration that produced little or no cell detachment or apoptosis, inhibited the telomerase activity and enhanced the paclitaxel-induced cell detachment and apoptosis. AZT also enhanced the activity of paclitaxel in mice bearing well-established s.c. FaDu xenograft tumors (i.e., reduced residual tumor size, enhanced apoptotic cell fraction, and prolonged survival time), without enhancing host toxicity. In contrast, AZT did not enhance the paclitaxel activity in the telomerase-negative osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells nor in FaDu cells where telomerase was already suppressed by antisense hTR, confirming that the AZT effect in parent FaDu cells is mediated through telomerase inhibition. These results demonstrate that combined use of agents targeting both telomere and telomerase yielded synergistic activity selective for tumors that depend on telomerase for telomere maintenance.     

反义端粒酶RNA对人胃癌细胞端粒长度及端粒酶活性调控的研究

 目的　探讨反义端粒酶RNA(hTR)对人胃癌细胞 端粒长度(TRF)及端粒酶活性的调控作 用。方法　应用反义hTR真核表达载体经脂质体介导转染胃癌细胞SGC7901 ,通过分子杂交及端粒重复扩增PCR方法检测hTR表达及端粒、端粒酶活性变化。结 果　经HYR筛选,转染细胞形成稳定克隆,反义hTR表达增强、正义hTR表达下调,平 均TRF缩短、端粒酶活性受抑。结论　反义hTR对胃癌细胞TRF及端粒酶活性 的调控可能是通过其对hTR模板的“封闭”而发挥作用的,反义hTR可以作为胃癌基因治疗的 一种新靶点。     

Inhibition of telomerase RNA (hTR) in cervical cancer by adenovirus-delivered siRNA

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has become a powerful tool for selectively silencing gene expression in cultured mammalian cells. In this study, a 67-bp oligonucleotide encoding human telomerase RNA (hTR) was introduced into pSIREN, a shuttle vector for construction of recombinant adenovirus. Then the U6-RNA promoter and siRNA-encoding insert were cut out from the pSIREN and subcloned into pAdeno-X to construct the plasmid pAd-hTR. After the pAd-hTR was transfected into a mammalian cell line HEK-293, adenovirus carrying the hTR-targeting siRNA (Ad-hTR-siRNA) was obtained. We performed a series of experiments to demonstrate silencing of the telomerase mediated by Ad-hTR-siRNA in HeLa cells. Compared with control virus (Ad-NT-siRNA), Ad-hTR-siRNA significantly reduced both hTR mRNA level (by 70.21%) and telomerase activity (by 58.87%) in HeLa cells. Moreover, it induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. Treatment of subcutaneous tumor xenografted with Ad-hTR-siRNA could slow down tumor growth, at least partially due to the induction of apoptosis (P<0.05) in vivo. Taken together, our results demonstrated efficient and specific knockdown of telomerase in HeLa cell line by the hTR siRNA, and indicated the prospect of applying this siRNA expressing recombinant adenovirus system in cancer gene therapy.     

端粒酶反义RNA 对人喉癌细胞系Hep-2 生长的影晌

 目的　探讨抗端粒酶在喉癌细胞治疗中的意义。方法　用脂质体介导法将 pBBS2 12 hTR(反义端粒酶RNA真核表达载体 )转染入人喉癌Hep 2细胞系中 ,采用TRAP法测定端粒酶活性 ,细胞动力学检测 ,电镜下观察等方法研究其对Hep 2细胞的端粒酶活性、细胞增殖及细胞凋亡影响。 结果　端粒酶反义RNA能显著抑制细胞的端粒酶活性 ,抑制细胞增殖并促进其凋亡。结论　以端粒酶反义RNA抑制端粒酶活性是治疗喉癌的潜在途径。     

肺癌组织中端粒酶基因与端粒酶活性关系的研究

目的 探讨肺癌组织中端粒酶基因hTR、hTERT与端粒酶活性的表达是否与肺癌的发生发展有关，深入了解端粒酶基因对端粒酶活性的调控是在基因水平还是在转录水平。方法 采用TRAP－PCR和RT－PCR方法分别检测68例肺癌组织及相应癌旁肺组织中端粒酶活性、端粒酶基因hTR和hTERP的表达。结果 68例肺癌组织中端粒酶阳性率为79．4％（54／68）,hTR阳性率为98．5％（67／68）,hTERT阳性率为91．2％（62／68）。68例癌旁组织中无一例表达端粒酶阳性，但大多数癌旁组织均表达hTR(62/68,91.2%)，仅7例hTERT表达阳性（10．3％），与hTR相比，hTERT同端粒酶具有更高的一致性，其一致率为89．0％（121／136），而ThTR与端粒酶的一致率为43．4％（59／136）。结论 端粒酶的活性可能在肺癌发生发展中起重要的作用。hTR与hTERT可能是在转录后或翻译后水平对端粒酶进行调控的。