Background RNA interference (RNAi) technology is emerging as a very potent tool to generate a cellular knockdown of a desired gene. The aim of this study was to explore whether RNAi targeting vascular endothelial gr...Background RNA interference (RNAi) technology is emerging as a very potent tool to generate a cellular knockdown of a desired gene. The aim of this study was to explore whether RNAi targeting vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) could inhibit colorectal tumor lymphangiogenesis and tumor growth. Methods We used vector-based RNAi to inhibit VEGF-C expression in colon cancer in vitro and in vivo. VEGF-C expression was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Westen blotting. To establish LoVo cell tumor xenografts in mice, we subcutaneously inoculated 1.0×10^6 LoVo cells in nude mice; after injection, tumors were allowed to grow for 4 weeks until the volume reached (75.80± 55.8)mm^3. The mice were then randomly divided into two groups: (1) the VEGF-C-siRNA group (n= 10) received direct injection of "therapeutic" plasmid 50 IJg of LoVo-VEGF-C-siRNA into the tumor mass; (2) the control group (n= 10) were injected with LoVo-control in 20 IJI of sterile 0.9% NaCI solution into the tumor mass. Tumor growth, microlymphatics and microvessels were compared for mice administered either systemic VEGF-C-siRNA or control over 4 weeks. Results The mRNA and protein expression of VEGF-C in the colon tumor cell line, LoVo, stably transfected with a VEGF-C-siRNA vector, were significantly downregulated 45.3% and 35.3% respectively. In vivo, four weeks after injection, the tumor volume were significantly smaller in VEGF-C-siRNA group than in LoVo-control group ((314.8 ± 54.8) mm3 vs (553.9 ± 90.1) mm3); the incidences of lymph node metastasis (30%) in VEGF-C-siRNA were significantly inhibited compared with LoVo-control group (70%); in VEGF-C-siRNA group, the number of microlymphatics per microscopic field was (5.3 ± 0.7) and the number of microvessels per microscopic field was (24.2 ± 6.5) decreased compared with LoVo-control group (12.5 ± 6.9) and (42.1 ± 7.4) (all P〈0.001). Conclusion Inhibition of VEGF-C expression using siRNA-mediated gene silencing vectors reduced lymphangiogenesis and tymph node metastasis and enhanced survivat.展开更多
文摘Background RNA interference (RNAi) technology is emerging as a very potent tool to generate a cellular knockdown of a desired gene. The aim of this study was to explore whether RNAi targeting vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) could inhibit colorectal tumor lymphangiogenesis and tumor growth. Methods We used vector-based RNAi to inhibit VEGF-C expression in colon cancer in vitro and in vivo. VEGF-C expression was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Westen blotting. To establish LoVo cell tumor xenografts in mice, we subcutaneously inoculated 1.0×10^6 LoVo cells in nude mice; after injection, tumors were allowed to grow for 4 weeks until the volume reached (75.80± 55.8)mm^3. The mice were then randomly divided into two groups: (1) the VEGF-C-siRNA group (n= 10) received direct injection of "therapeutic" plasmid 50 IJg of LoVo-VEGF-C-siRNA into the tumor mass; (2) the control group (n= 10) were injected with LoVo-control in 20 IJI of sterile 0.9% NaCI solution into the tumor mass. Tumor growth, microlymphatics and microvessels were compared for mice administered either systemic VEGF-C-siRNA or control over 4 weeks. Results The mRNA and protein expression of VEGF-C in the colon tumor cell line, LoVo, stably transfected with a VEGF-C-siRNA vector, were significantly downregulated 45.3% and 35.3% respectively. In vivo, four weeks after injection, the tumor volume were significantly smaller in VEGF-C-siRNA group than in LoVo-control group ((314.8 ± 54.8) mm3 vs (553.9 ± 90.1) mm3); the incidences of lymph node metastasis (30%) in VEGF-C-siRNA were significantly inhibited compared with LoVo-control group (70%); in VEGF-C-siRNA group, the number of microlymphatics per microscopic field was (5.3 ± 0.7) and the number of microvessels per microscopic field was (24.2 ± 6.5) decreased compared with LoVo-control group (12.5 ± 6.9) and (42.1 ± 7.4) (all P〈0.001). Conclusion Inhibition of VEGF-C expression using siRNA-mediated gene silencing vectors reduced lymphangiogenesis and tymph node metastasis and enhanced survivat.