Objective To explore effect of DLL4 gene in MCF-7 cells of human breast cancer which was inhibitted by short hair in RNA （shRNA） on inducing apoptosis and chemosensitivity to docetaxel. Methods Specific shRNA was designed in accordance with DLL4 gene and transfected into MCF-7 cells of human breast cancer with liposomal （Lip-shRNA group）， MCF-7 cells transfected with only liposomal as Lip group， and control group without any treatment. Expressions of DLL4 protein in 3 groups were detected by immunohistochemical method， apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were examined by flow cytometry （FCM）. Proliferations and sensitivity of MCF-7 cells to docetaxel in 3 groups were determined by methylthiazoyl-tetrazolium bromide （MTT）. Results The averages optical density value and rate of positive area of Lip-shRNA group were significantly lower than that of other 2 groups （P＜0.01）. The levels of A value at 24h， 48h， and 72h in Lip-shRNA group were significantly lower than that of other 2 groups （P＜0.01）. Rates of cell apoptosis at 24h， 48h， 72h and 96 h in Lip-shRNA group were significantly higher than that of other 2 goups （P＜0.05），and ratio of G2/M was higher too （P＜0.05）. IC50 of Lip-shRNA group to docetaxel was significantly lower than that of other 2 groups （P＜0.05）. Conclusions The RNA interference technology can effectively block the expression of DLL4 gene. Inhibition of DLL4/Notch signaling pathway can lead to proliferation inhibition of cancer cell and a concomitant increase in cells undergoing apoptosis， and can enhance the cell sensitivity to docetaxel. DLL4 may be an important target for therapeutic approach of breast cancer.
Objective To study the inhibitory effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on bcl-2 expression of vascular smooth muscle cells （VSMCs) in rabbit. Methods The expression vector of bcl-2 gene-targeting small interference RNA (pshRNA-bcl-2) was constructed and was transfected into VSMCs by lipofectamine, and the unloaded vector was used as control. The expression of bcl-2 mRNA was identified by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The growth of the transfected VSMCs was examined by MTT. Results The pshRNA-bcl-2 may inhibit the expression of bcl-2 gene at the levels of transcription and translation. There were significant differences (P＜0.01) of the expressions of bcl-2 mRNA between the VSMCs that were transfected with pshRNA-bcl-2 and the ones in plasmid transfected group and control group, respectively. There was a significant difference (P＜0.01) in the growth of VSMCs between the plasmid transfected and the control groups. Conclusion The plasmid containing the small interference RNA of bcl-2 may have an inhibitory effect on the cell growth and endogenous expression of bcl-2 gene at the levels of transcription and translation in VSMCs.
【Abstract】Objective To explore the application of RNA interference (RNAi) in colorectal cancer gene therapy. Methods The related literatures in recent years were reviewed. Results RNAi causes a high effective and distinctive degradation of mRNA homologous in sequence to the dsRNA. This new technology has been successfully applied to research the genesis and the growth of colorectal cancer.Conclusion RNAi has been a new focus in gene therapy for colorectal cancer.
Objective To investigate the radiation-sensitizing effects of Ku80 silencing by siRNA interference for A549 lung cancer cells. Methods The sequences of Ku80 siRNA and negative siRNA were chemically synthesized and transfected into A549 lung cancer cells by lipofectamine. RT-PCR and Western bolt analysis were used to determine Ku80 gene expression. The transfected cells in culture dishes were irradiated with X ray at doses of 2 Gy, 4 Gy, 6 Gy, 8 Gy, 10 Gy, respectively. Once all treatments were completed, the cells were processed with the colony formation assay. Results RT-PCR detection showed that Ku80 mRNA levels in A549 lung cancer cells were reduced after transfected with Ku80 siRNA at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h time points. Western blot analysis showed that Ku80 protein content decreased at 48 h and 72 h time points compared with the control group ( P lt; 0. 05 ) . Cloning formation assay indicated that radiosensitivity of A549 lung cancer cells was enhanced after transfected with Ku80 siRNA. Conclusion Ku80 siRNA can effectively inhibit Ku80 gene expression of A549 lung cancer cells, and therefore enhance its radiosensitivity.
Objective To establish a cell culture model in vitro of acute lung injury and investigate the effects of NF-κB p65 on the inflammation and oxidative stress in TNF-α-activated type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells. Methods A549 cells were treated with TNF-α ( 10 ng/mL, 24 h) in the absence or presence of NF-κB p65 siRNA ( 50 nmol /L) . RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to analyze the silence efficiency of RNAi targeting NF-κB p65. The contents of IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-6 in the culture supernatant were measured by ELISA. The concentration of MDA and SOD were detected by colorimetric method. The survival rate of cell was assessed by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) assay. Results P65 RNAi significantly decreased the transcription and translation of NF-κB p65 induced by TNF-α( P lt; 0. 05) . The levels of IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-6 were significantly lower in the supernatants of A549 cells pretransfected with NF-κB p65 siRNA ( P lt;0. 05) , while the concentration of MDA markedly decreased ( P lt; 0. 05) , and the activation of SOD increased dramatically ( P lt; 0. 05) . Consequently, the survival rate of A549 in the p65 siRNA group improved( P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusions NF-κB p65 plays a key role in the oxidative stress induced by TNF-α. NF-κB p65 silencing can down-regulate the inflammation and oxidative stress induced by TNF-αand enhance the proliferation of alveolar epithelial cells.
Objective To construct the expression short hairpin RNA （shRNA） targeting gene kir2. 1 in rat myocardial cells, named pEGFP6 kir2. 1, and to observe the effects on the expression of messenger RNA（mRNA） and protein of gene kir2. 1 as well as the changes of myocardial beating rates. Methods Five RNA interference （RNAi） sites targeting the rat kir2. 1 gene was selected, designed and synthesized five pairs of oligonucleotides fragments ,annealed them to double-strand, then cloned them into the vectors containing U6 promoter,obtained the vector expressing five aim genes. Rat myocardial cells were divided into three groups： Experimental group, negative plasmid control group and normal control group. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（RT PCR） and Western-blot were carried out to detect the expression of the mRNA and protein of gene kir2.1 and the beating rates of myocardial cells were observed after 72 h. Results The expression of mRNA and protein of gene kir2. 1 of experimental group were markedly lower than that of other two control groups after 72 h（P〈0.01）. There was no statistically significant between two control groups. The beating rate in experimental group was much faster than other two control groups （P〈0.01）, remained unchanged in both negative plasmid control group and normal control group. Conclusion Plasmid pEGFP6-kir2.1 could suppress the expression of the mRNA and protein of kir2.1 and increase the rat cardiac muscle cell beats.
【Abstract】 Objective The seed cells source is a research focus in tissue engineered cartilage. To observe whether the post-RNA interference (RNAi) chondrocytes could be used as the seed cells of tissue engineered cartilage. Methods Chondrocytes were separated from Sprague Dawley rats. The first passage chondrocytes were used and divided into 2 groups: normal chondrocytes (control group) and post-RNAi (experimental group). Normal and post-RNAi chondrocytes were seeded into chitosan/gelatin material and cultured in vitro to prepare tissue engineered cartilage. The contents of Aggrecan and Aggrecanase-1, 2 were measured by HE and Masson staining, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and RT-PCR. Results The histological results: no obvious difference was observed in cell number and extracellular matrix (ECM) between 2 groups at 2 weeks; when compared with control group, the secretion of ECM and the cell number increased in experimental group with time. The RT-PCR results: the expression of Aggrecan mRNA in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group (P lt; 0.05); but the expressions of Aggrecanase-1, 2 mRNA in experimental group were significantly lower than those in control group (P lt; 0.05). The SEM results: the cell number in experimental group was obviously more than that in control group, and the cells in experimental group were conjugated closely. Conclusion The post-RNAi chondrocytes can be used as the seed cells for tissue engineered cartilage, which can secrete more Aggrecan than normal chondrocytes. But their biological activities need studying further.
Objective To observe whether Nogo-66 can inhibit the neurite outgrowth during the neuronal differentiation of the neural stem cells (NSCs) and remove such an inhibitory effect by the small interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated knockdown of the Nogo66 receptor (NgR). Methods NSCs derived from the rat spinal cord were collected, and were cultured by the suspension culture in vitro. NSCs were transfected by siRNA to knock downtheexpression of NgR. Immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to assess the knockdown efficiency. NSCs were divided into four groups and differentiated in the medium containing 10% FBS. In the control group, no intervention was applied to NSCs; in the Nogo-P4 group, NSCs were differentiated in the presence of Nogo-P4 (active segment of Nogo-66); in the siRNA group, NSCs were transfected by siRNA to knock down NgR before they were differentiated; in the siRNA and Nogo-P4 group, NSCs were transfected by siRNA to knock down NgR before they were differentiated in presence of Nogo-P4. The differentiated neurons were labeled by immunofluorescence, and the neurite length was measured by the ImagePro Plus 5.0 software. The differentiation of the neurite length was compared in each group. Results The suspension-cultured cells became the nerve bulb, which could positively expresses Nestin by immunofluorescence. At 1 week of the differentiation in the medium containing 10% FBS, the positively-labeled neuron specific enolase, the glial fibrillary acidic protein, and the myelin basic protein were observed. Both immunofluorescence and Western blot approved that the expression of NgR was knocked down by transfection of siRNA at 24 hours after the transfection. The knockdown efficiency was 90.35%±3.10%. The neurite length was 97.80±6.97 μm, 80.54±6.75 μm,92.14±7.27 μm, and 94.01±8.37 μm in the control group, the Nogo-P4 group, the siRNA group, and the siRNA and Nogo-P4 group, respectively. The Nogo-P4 group had a significant difference when compared with the otherthree groups (Plt;0.01), and the other three groups had no significant difference when compared with each other（Pgt;0.05）. ConclusionNogo-66 can inhibit the neuronal neurite outgrowth during the differentiation ofNSCs. Such an inhibitory effect can be removed by the siRNA mediated knockdown of NgR.
Objective To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA(siRNA) targeting hypoxia inducible factor1alpha; (HIF1alpha;) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on expression of VEGF in human vascular endothelial cells. Methods HIF-1alpha; siRNA recombinant plasmid was constructed. Human vascular ndothelial cells were cultured in vitro and divided into normoxia group (20% O2) and hypoxia group (1% O2). Hypoxia group was then divided into control group, vector group, HIF-1alpha; group (HIF-1alpha; siRNA), VEGF group ( VEGF165 siRNA) and cotransfection group (HIF-1alpha; siRNA+VEGF165 siRNA). LipofectamineTM 2000 (LF2000) mediated vector plasmid was transfected to cells in each group except the control group. The expression of HIF-1alpha; siRNA and VEGF165 siRNA recombinant plasmid were identified by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein were detected by RTPCR and immunocytochemical method. Results The expression of HIF-1alpha; siRNA and VEGF165 si RNA recombinant plasmid were detected 24 hours after transfected. The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein was faint in the normoxia group, but increased obviously in hypoxia group. The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in the HIF1alpha;, VEGF and cotransfection groups were lower than which in the control group. Cotransfection group showed the highest inhibitory effect. Conclusion HIF-1alpha; and VEGF165 siRNA can effectively inhibit the expression of VEGF in human vascular endothelial cells.
Objective To construct gene silence adenovirus vector targeting both transglutaminase 2 （TG2） and Mer receptor tyrosine kinase （Mertk） synchronously and detect the gene silence function of it. Methods The interfering plasmids targeting TG2 protein and Mertk protein were constructed firstly， then the H1 promoter and RNA interfering （RNAi） sequence were cut and ligated to pAdTrack for constructing pAdTrack/TG2/Mertk. The pAdTrack/TG2/Mertk was transfected into BJ5183 bacterial cells which contained pAdEasy-1， then the plasmid was detected by enzyme digestion after recovery. Adenovirus were harvested after that pAdTrack/TG2/Mertk was infected into HEK293 cells. The virus titer was measured after repeated amplification. The RAW264.7 cells were infected by pAdTrack/TG2/Mertk， pAdTrack/TG2， pAdTrack/Mertk， and pAdTrack/green fluorescent protein （GFP）， respectively. Then the expression levels of TG2 protein and Mertk protein of mouse macrophages were detected by Western blot after infection. Results The virus titer of pAdTrack/TG2/Mertk plasmid was 6.13×1010GFU/mL. The pAdTrack/TG2/Mertk plasmid which contained 2 promoters and 2 RNAi sequences was identified successfully by enzyme digestion. Compared with pAdTrack/GFP group and pAdTrack/Mertk group （there was no significant differece between the 2 groups）， the expression levels of TG2 protein of mouse macrophages which infected with pAdTrack/TG2/Mertk or pAdTrack/TG2 decreased obviously （P＜0.01）， but there was no significant difference between the later 2 groups. Compared with pAdTrack/GFP group and pAdTrack/TG2 group （there was no significant difference between the 2 groups）， the expression levels of Mertk protein of mouse macrophages which infected with pAdTrack/TG2/Mertk or pAdTrack/Mertk decreased obviously too （P＜0.01）， but there was no significant difference between the later 2 groups. Conclusion Gene silence adenovirus vector plasmid targeting both TG2 and Mertk synchronously is constructed successfully， and the pAdTrack/TG2/Mertk can reduce the expressions of TG2 protein and Mertk protein of mouse macrophages obviously.