Effects of seminal oil emulsion of Brucea javanica on apoptosis and apoptosis-related genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Inhibitory effect of antisense oligonucleotide on the expression of survivin gene and proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of survivin antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) on the expression of survivin gene and proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721.

METHODS: The 20mer antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) targeted to the promotor region of survivin mRNA was designed and synthesized. The expression of survivin gene in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 was blocked by means of ASODN transfection mediated by DOTAP liposomal reagent. The changes of survivin protein and mRNA expression after transfection were assessd by Western blot and in situ hybridization, respectively. The apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometer. The changes of cell adherent rate, cell growth activity, and the inhibitory rate of cell growth were also studied.

RESULTS: The expression of survivin protein and mRNA was decreased markedly after survivin ASODN transfection (69.59 vs 10.71, and 75.61 vs 22.94, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the cell adherent rate also decreased markedly (90.68% vs 33.16%, P < 0.01) while the apoptotic rate increased markedly (0.7% vs 31.35%, P < 0.01). The inhibitory effect on the cell growth could maintain about a week after transfection, and the highest inhibitory rate could be 71.8% three d after transfection.

CONCLUSION: Transfection of ASODN targeted to the promotor region of survivin mRNA by DOTAP liposomal transfection reagent can down-regulate the expression of survivin protein and mRNA significantly in 7721 cell line and inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. survivin may be an important target in the therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.