Apoptosis and Lipolysis of White Adipocytes Induced by Neuropeptide Y- Y5 Receptor Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides

Objective: To investigate the influence of central administration ofneuropeptide Y-Y5 receptor antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on body weight, fat pads of SDrats, and the effects of white adipocytes lipolysis and apoptosis. Methods: Y5 receptor antisense,sense, mismatched ODNs or vehicle was intracerebroventricularly (i. c. v.) injected. Averageadipocyte area was calculated. DNA ladders were measured to evaluate adipocyte apoptosis, and RT-PCRwas used to analyse the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax gene. Results: Central administration of Y5antisense ODNs significantly decreased body weight, and average adipocyte area. DNA fragmentationwas present after electrophoresis at epididymal adipose tissue. The expression of Bcl-2 gene wasdownregulated, while the expression of Bax upregulated. Conclusion: Lipolysis and adipocyteapoptosis may be important mechanisms far 75 antisense therapy.

Selection of Effective Bcl-2 Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides with Computer Software and Experimental Assay

Objective： To explore and investigate the selection of effective antisense oligodeoxynuleotides with the help of computer and RNAstructure folding software. Methods： Bcl-2 gene was used as the target gene and five antisense oligodeoxynuleotides were designed to be bound to Bcl-2 mRNA optimal secondary structure regions that were predicted free from intramolecular fold or instability of free energy. The five antisense oligodeoxynucleotides were studied with experimental assay of leukemia cells, including cell grow assay with tropan blue exclusion, expression of Bcl-2 protein detected with immunochemistry and flowcytometry, Bcl-2 mRNA content detected with RT-PCR technique, as well as apoptosis observed and determined with morphonological method, electrophoresis and flowcytometry. Results： The results showed that two of the five antisense oligodeoxynucleotides were effective antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, which were able to inhibit cell growth in leukemia, to decrease the level of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein, to induce apoptosis of leukemia cells significantly. Conclusion： The computational prediction of antisense efficacy is faster than other methods and more efficient, which can potentially speed the development of sequences for both research and clinical applications.

INHIBITION EFFECT OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR ANTISENSE OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDES ON C6 GLIOMA

Objective: To explore the probability of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides as a developing new therapeutic strategy for glioma. Methods: VEGF protein expression was detected by S-P immunohistochemical technique. Tumor cell apoptosis was observed by TUNEL method. Results: Compared with control, VEGF protein expression was inhibited by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides in vitro. And the inhibitory effects increased with the increasing concentration. VEGF positive rate was 82.10% in control group, while in 2.5, 5, 10 mmol/L AODN groups, they were 70.00%, 57.85%, 53.20% respectively. No inhibition effect was found in the cell lines treated with missense and sense oligodeoxynucleotides. In vivo, antisense oligodeoxy-nucleotides therapy also inhibited VEGF protein expression and induced the increase of apoptotic tumor cells. However, it has no effect on tumor cell proliferation. Conclusion: It is hopeful that VEGF antisense oligodeoxynucleotides may be a new gene therapy method to glioma through its antiangiogenesis effect by inhibition of VEGF.

Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide Inhibits Expression of Re-com binantPorcine Follicle-Stim ulating Horm one Receptor

To assess the role of follicle stimulating hormone receptor(FSHR) gene expression in regulating expression of FSHR protein in the plasma membrane, the effects of a porcine FSHR cDNA antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) on FSHR mRNA levels and 125 I FSH binding were determined in Chinese hamster ovary cells expression recombinant porcine FSHR (pFSHR CHO cells). An 18 mer phosphorothioate endcapped antisense ODN that corresponded to the region surrounding the translation initiation codon of the porcine FSHR cDNA was synthesized. An 18 mer nonsense sequence of identical nucleotide composition, which had little homology to known DNA sequences, was synthesized for use as a control. pFSHR CHO cells were cultured in 24 well plates (10 5 cells/well) in the absence or presence of 1 20 μmol/L antisense or nonsense ODN for 24 h and then assayed for porcine FSHR mRNA, using quantitative reverse transcription and competitive polymerase chain reaction, and for 125 I FSH binding activity. Treatment with 10 μmol/L antisense ODN caused a paradoxical increase in porcine FSHR mRNA from 0.89±0.06 to 1.64±0.08 ng/mg total RNA ( P <0.05). Transfection with lipofectamine and 0.33 μmol/L antisense ODN caused an increase in porcine mRNA from 0.95±0.08 to 1.53±0.07 ng/mg total RAN. This was probably due to upregulation of mRNA synthesis resulting from inhibition of porcine FSHR protein translation. The nonsense ODN had no effect on porcine FSHR mRNA. Antisense, but not nonsense, ODN (10 μmol/L) inhibited membrane binding of 125 I FSH by 13.6± 0.8 % ( P <0.05) in 24 h. Treatment of cells with antisense ODN (10 μmol/L) for 48 h resulted in a 76±1.5 % ( P <0.05) inhibition of 125 I FSH binding. In contrast, transfection with lipofectamine and 0.33 μmol/L antisense ODN at 0 h caused a 76.1±1.3 % ( P <0.05) reduction in binding within 24 h. Binding had returned to 52.3±2.3 % ( P < 0.05) of normal by 48 h. These results indicate that an antisense ODN corresponding to the region of the translation start site of the porcine FSHR cDNA is an effective specific inhibitor of porcine FSHR synthesis and that inhibition of receptor synthesis causes a decrease in functional membrane bound FSHR.

Transfection of Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide Inhibits Heparanase Gene Expression and Invasive Ability of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell in vitro

Extracellular matrix （ECM） degradation is an essential step that allows tumor cells to penetrate a tissue barrier and become metastatic. Heparanase （HPSE） is an endoglycosidase that specifically degrades heparin sulfate proteoglycans （HSPG）, a chief component of ECM, HPSE is not expressed in normal epithelial cells but can be detected in a variety of human carcinomas including pancreatic cancer. In the present study, human pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 was transfected with HPSE antisense oligodeoxynucleotide （AS-ODN） in vitro, then the inhibitory effect of ASODN on HPSE gene expression and invasive ability of Panc-1 cells in vitro was examined. The HPSE mRNA and protein expression of Panc-1 cells transfected with AS-ODN was significantly inhibited. However, there were no marked inhibitory effects in Panc-1 cells treated with nonsense oligodeoxynucleotide （NS-ODN）. Moreover, a modified Boyden chamber assay demonstrated that transfection with HPSE AS-ODN significantly inhibited invasive potential of Panc-1 cells in vitro after AS-ODN transfection. This suggests that HPSE AS-ODN may contribute to the inhibition of HPSE mRNA and protein expression, and results in a decrease of the invasive ability of Panc-1 in vitro.

Effect of Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide Directed to NF-κB-RelA on Bcl-x_L mRNA in Extended Drug Resistance Leukemia Cell Line HL- 60/E6

To explore the effect of NF κB on bcl x gene transcription in extended drug resistance leukemia cell line HL 60/E6, drug resistant subline HL 60/E6 was derived by intermittently exposing HL 60 cells to 6 ng/ml epirubicin. Indirect immunofluorescence was used to demonstrate the location of NF κB RelA in HL 60/E6 cells. FCM analysis and RT PCR were used to detect the efficiency of liposome mediated ODN transfection and the change of bcl x L mRNA levels after 5 μmol/L phosphorothioate (PS) derivatized antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) directed to RelA was transferred into HL 60/E6 cells. The results showed that RelA remained persistently active and located at the nuclei of HL 60/E6 cells,but in the cytoplasm of HL 60 cells, the efficiency of liposome mediated ODN transfection was significantly higher than that of null ODN ( P <0.01 in 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h). Exposure of HL 60/E6 cells to 5 μmol/L AS PS ODN directed to RelA led to a maximal 40 % decline of bcl x L mRNA levels within 8 h. The inhibition rate of bcl x L mRNA was (15±1.79) %, (28±2.34) %, (40±3.47) %, (20±1.54) % in 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 15 h, respectively, but it was less than 15 % in control group. It was concluded that NF κB was involved in regulating bcl x transcription. It was suggested that NF κB was an important factor for drug resistance in leukemia cells.

Effect of C-myc Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides on Hypoxia-induced Proliferation of Pulmonary Vascular Pericytes

To study the effect of c myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on proliferation of pulmonary vascular pericytes (PC) induced by hypoxia, cell culture, dot hybridization using probe of digoxigenin 11 dUTP labeled cDNA, 3H thymidine incorporation, immunocytochemical technique and image analysis methods were used to observe the effect of c myc antisense ODNs on expression of c myc gene and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and 3H thymidine incorporation of PC induced by hypoxia. The results showed that hypoxia could significantly enhance the expression of c myc and PCNA ( P <0.01), and elevate 3H thymidine incorporation of PC ( P <0.01), but antisense ODNs could significantly inhibit the expression of c myc and PCNA ( P <0.05), and 3H thymidine incorporation of PC ( P <0.01). It was suggested that hypoxia could promote the proliferation of PC by up regulating the expression of c myc gene, but c myc antisense ODNs could inhibit hypoxia induced proliferation of PC by downregulating the expression of c myc gene.

Inhibitory Effect of Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides on tTG Expression in Cultured Bovine Trabecular Meshwork Cells

To study the effect of tTG fully phosphorothioated antisense oligodeoxynucleotides （tTG-ASDON） on tTG expression in cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells （BTMCs） in vitro and explore a new treatment alternative for primary open angle glaucoma （POAG）, the ASDON1 and ASDON2 complementary to the protein codogram region of tTG were designed, synthesized and phosphorothioated according to the secondary structure of tTG. The ASDON1 and ASDON2 were embedded in Lipofectamine and transfected into BTMCs. The untreated group served as negative controls. The expression of tTG in the mRNA and protein level were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technique-Supervision method respectively. Our results showed that both the mRNA and the protein of tTG with tTG-ASDON1 and tTCr-ASDON2 were significantly decreased as compared with that of the controls （P〈0.05）. On the other hand, no significant difference was found between the ASDON1 group and the ASDON2 group. It is concluded that the expression of tTG mRNA and protein in cultured BTMC are down-regulated by tTG- ASDON. As a result, tTG-ASDON may be used for the treatment of POAG through the inhibitory effect on the expression of tTG.

Inhibitory effects of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides on pancreatic cancer cell Bxpc-3 telomerase activity and cell growth in vitro

AIM： To investigate the effect of telomerase hTERT gene antisense oligonucleotide （hTERT-ASO） on proliferation and telomerase activity of pancreatic cancer cell line Bxpc-3. METHODS： MTT assay was used to detect the effect of different doses of hTERT-ASO on proliferation of Bxpc-3 cell for different times. To study the anti-tumor activity, the cells were divided into there groups： Control group （pancreatic cancer cell Bxpc-3）; antisense oligonucleotide （hTERT-ASO） group; and nosense oligonucleotide group decorated with phosphorothioate. Telomerase activity was detected using TRAP-PCR-ELISA. Cell DNA distribution was examined using flow cytometry assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by transmission electron microscope in each group. RESULTS： After treatment with 6 mmollL hTERT- ASO, cell proliferation was inhibited in dose- and time- dependent manner. The telomerase activity decreased after treatment with hTERT-ASO for 72 h. Flow cytometry showed the cell number of G0/G1 phase increased from 2.7% to 14.7%, the cell number of S phase decreased from 72.7% to 51.0%, and a sub-G1 stage cell apoptosis peak appeared in front of G1 stage. CONCLUSION： Telomerase antisense oligodeoxy- nucleotide can inhibit the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell line Bxpc-3 and decrease the telomerase activity and increase cell apoptosis rate in vitro.

The effect of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeting Aurora A kinase on cell proliferation and chemosensitivity to paclitaxel in human lung cancer cell line A549

Objective： Aurora A kinase representing a family of evolutionadly conserved mitotic serine/threonine kinases has been found elevated in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. It is suggested that the overexpression of Aurora A contributes to the carcinogenesis, chromosomal instability （CIN）, and de-differentiation of lung cancers. To address its possibility as a therapeutic target for lung cancer, we employed the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide （ASODN） technique to inhibit Aurora A expression and investigate its effects on tumor growth and cell cycle of A549, as well as the chemosensitivity to paclitaxel. Methods： Aurora AASODN was synthesized and transfected into A549 cells by lipofectAMINE 2000. Aurora A mRNA and protein expression were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and Western blot respectively. Cell cycle distribution was observed by flow cytometer. MTT assay was used to evaluate cell inhibition ratio before and after transfection. Results： The proliferation of the A549 cells was inhibited by Aurora A ASODN dose and time dependently. It was also observed that the IC50 of A549 cells after 48 hours＇ treatment of ASODN was about 300 nmol/L and under such circumstances, the Aurora A mRNA and protein expression significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05）, along with the induction of accumulation of cells in S phase and the G2-M transition. Furthermore, cell inhibition ratio of the combination of Aurora AASODN and paclitaxel was higher significantly than paclitaxel （P 〈 0.05） or Aurora AASODN alone （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： Inhibition of Aurora A expression can result in the suppression of cell growth and chemosensitizing activity to paclitaxel in human lung cancer cell line A549.

Effect of Bcl-2 Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides on Human Lung Carcinoma Transplanted Subcutaneously in Nude Mice

Objective： To investigate the inhibitory effects of the Bcl-2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides （ASODN） on tumor formation and growth of human lung carcinoma transplanted subcutaneously in nude mice. Methods： Human NCI-H460 cells treated with Bcl-2 ASODN or nonesense oligodeoxynucleotide （NSODN） and untreated NCI-H460 cells were respectively implanted subcutaneously into nude mice. When the diameters of tumor were above 0.5 cm after untreated NCI-H460 cells injection, the mice bearing tumor were randomly divided into three groups： saline control group, Bcl-2 ASODN group, NSODN group. ODN was directly injected into the tumor body for 3 weeks. The weight and volume of subcutaneous tumors were measured, and the morphology of tumor cells was observed. Results： The tumorigenic ability of the treated NCI-H460 cells by Bcl-2 ASODN was reduced. The mean time at which tumor can be detected was prolonged up to 12.6 days （P〈0.01）. The maximum tumor growth inhibitory rate was 87.5%. In therapeutic efficacy, growth of tumor was significantly inhibited in Bcl-2 ASODN group as compared with that in NSODN group, saline-treated group （P〈0.01）. The NSODN control was ineffective. In comparison with NSODN-treated, saline-treated mice, those treated with Bcl-2 ASODN showed a significant decrease in median weight of subcutaneous tumors （P〈0.01）. The growth inhibitory rate was 71.0% in ASODN group. Conclusion： Bcl-2 ASODN could inhibit tumor formation and tumor growth in nude mice.

STUDY ON MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF SRS LEUKEMIA VIRUS ISOLATED IN CHINA AND INHIBITORY EFFECT OF ANTISENSE OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDES

This paper reviews the significant study on SRS leukemia virus (SRSV) in recent years in China. A series of results about the proteins, nucleic acids and function, CDNA libraries, molecular cloning of SRSV, and inhibitory effect of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides on SRSV are reported. It has proved that SRSV is useful to study the vival etiology and pathogenesis of human leukemial.

Effect of MUC2 Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide on Cell Proliferation,Adhesion,and Proteolytic Enzyme in Human Gastric Carcinoma in vitro

Objective：To investigate the effect of MUC2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide （ASODN） on cell proliferation, adhesion and proteolytic enzyme inhuman gastric carcinoma cell line （SGC7901）. Methods： Phosphorothioate MUC2 ASODN was synthesized and packaged by lipofectin, and then transfected to SGC7901 cells. The expression of MUC2 mRNA and protein after transfection was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and immunohistochemical method respectively, and the effect of MUC2 ASODN on cell proliferation, adhesion and proteolytic enzyme was determined by flow cytometry（FCM）, MTT method, Rose Bengal and immunohistochemical method. Results： Compared with the blank control group, ASODN efficiently downregulated the expression of MUC2 mRNA and protein in SGC7901 cells 48h after transfection（P〈0.01）. Various concentrations of ASODN could significantly inhibit the growth of SGC7901, and the inhibition peaked at the 48th hour after transfection（P〈0.05）. The apoptosis rate of the experimental group was about 4.38%, and the percentage of S-phase cells rose while G0/G1-phase cells fell because most of them were blocked at S-phase. In addition, cells treated with MUC2 ASODN showed lower adhesion ability with matrix and endothelial cells than control cells in vitro（P〈0.01）. By immunohistochemical method, the upregulation of E-cadherin proteins and the downregulation of MMP2 and cathepsinD proteins were also observed（P〈0.05）. Conclusion： MUC2 ASODN could efficiently inhibit SGC7901 cell proliferation, reduce cell adhesion ability and downregulate the expression levels of proteolytic enzyme in vitro.

Antiviral effects of two antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides against Japanese encephalitis virus strain SA--14 in cultured BHK21 cells

To investigate the potential utility of nuclease--resistant oligodeoxynucleotides (S-ODN) as anew class of antiviral agents. Methods: Two antisense phosphorothioate analogues (20--iner) complementary to thesequences of the first AUG codon and 5’ terminus of NSS of JEV SA--14 genome have been synthesized and their effects on CPE, viral antigen expression and virus plaque formation were tested in vitro. Results: The resultsshowed that 1. 0 pmol/L of S-ODN greatly deferred the onset of CPE in cultured BHKZI cells for at least 48 h.Addition of 5. 0 pmol/L or more S--ODN to culture medium fluid, 2 h prior to 100TCID,,virus inoculum, notablysuppressed viral antigen expression in the cells by making it lower than the limit of EIA detection in 48 h. The inhibition lasted more than 96 h. Viral plaque assay results demonstrated that S-ODN were most effect’ive within 18h with plaque inhibition rate over 90% by 5. 0 pmol/L S--ODNI. The inhibitory activity soon faded in 24 h. In addition, high concentrations (up to 80. 0 pmol/L) of S--ODN did not show any obvious cytotoxicity in 6 d by usingtrypan blue dye exclusion method. Conclusion: The specific synthetic S--ODN transitorily inhibited JEV replicationin BHK--ZI cells with characteristics of specificity and S--ODN dose--dependence.

Effects of Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide to Follicle-stimulating Hormone Receptor on the Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in Cells Derived from Human Ovarian Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma in Vitro

The human ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma （hOMC） cells were co-cultured with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide （antisense ODN）, nonsense ODN, and follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH） at different concentrations for the purpose of observing the effects of antisense ODN to FSH receptor （FSHR） on the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured hOMC cells in vitro. The inhibitory rates of growth were measured by using MTT method on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th days after the interference of antisense ODN, nonsense ODN, and FSH, respectively. The apoptotic rates and the cell cycles were determined by means of flow cytometry, the apoptosis indexes were detected by using TUNEL, and the expression of caspase-3 was measured by using SP immunohistochemistry. Compared with that in the control group, the proliferative activity of hOMC cells was increased obviously in FSH groups （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）, decreased distinctly in antisense ODN groups （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）, and unchanged in nonsense ODN groups, respectively. Meanwhile, antisense ODN could significantly antagonize the FSH-promoted cell proliferative activity （P〈0.01）. Compared with those in the control group, the apoptotic rates and the expression of caspase-3 were dramatically increased in the mid- and high-dose antisense ODN groups （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）, while the number of cells in G1/G0 phase was significantly decreased and that in S phase distinctly increased （P〈0.01）, There was no change in nonsense ODN groups （P〉0.05）, It was suggested that FSH may improve the development of hOMC cells, However, antisense ODN could inhibit proliferative activity and the FSH-promoted proliferative activity in hOMC cells, at the same time, antisense ODN could inhibit hOMC cell growth by inducing apoptosis.

c-Ha-ras and c-myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotides inhibit the proliferation and DNA synthesis in human gastric carcinoma cell lines

The effects of two antisense oligodeoxynucleotides on the expression of c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene and the growth of human gastric carcinoma cell lines were observed. Synthetic 15-mer directed at the region of the translational initiation site of c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene (ASO-r) greatly inhibited the proliferation (55. 61%,P<0. 05) and DNA synthesis (76. 79%,P<0. 05) of MGc-803 cell line. It also inhibited the proliferation (62. 02%,P<0. 05) and DNA synthesis (76. 78%, P<0. 05) of SGc-7901 cell line. A reduction in intracellular P21 ras protein levels in MGc-803 cell line was observed 6 h after the treatment with ASO-r and maintained over 12 h. Another synthetic 15-mer targeted against the initiation codon and downstream 4 codons of c-myc proto-oncogene (ASOm) inhibited only DNA synthesis of MGc-803 cell line (71. 37%, P<0. 05). The control 15-mer did not inhibit the expression of P21 protein and proliferation of these cell lines. These experiments seemed to provide evidence that ASO-r could be effective in inhibiting the expression of c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene and controlling the growth of human gastric carcinoma cells,and that the over-expression of c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene might mainly be associated with the malignant proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cells.

Inhibition of α_1(Ⅰ) collagen gene in vitro transcription by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides

Objective and Methods: Excessive accumulation of collagen typeⅠ and type Ⅲ causes the formation of keloids and hypertrophic scars. To understand the mechanism by which antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (Oligo) acts on in vitro transcrption α1 (I) collagen gene, isotopes (α-32pGTP) was incorporated into 2 SP6 in vitro transcription systems. Results and Conclu- sion: Oligo 2 (at the transcription start region) could effectively inhibit in vitro transcription of pGEM3-Col13 and the control (random oligodeoxynucleotides) showed no inhibition. However, oligo 1 (at the transcription start region) obviously inhibited the in vitro transcription of pGEM3-Col14, while Oligo 2, which targeted at the down stream region (about 200 bp) of the promoter showed no significant inhibition effect.

Inhibitory effect of EGFR antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on human hepatoma cell line

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancer-related causes of death worldwide. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly expressed in many human tumors and provides a new target for anticancer drug development. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of EGFR antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on human HCC. METHODS:SMMC-7721 cells in culture were treated with 10 μmol/L antisense-odn for 24, 48, 72 hours respectively and MTT assay was adopted to determine the proliferation of tumor cells in vitro. About 2 ×106 SMMC-7721 cells with or without pretreatment(30 μmol/L oligodeoxynucleotide) were inoculated into subcutaneous flap of 21 nude mice, of which 7 were treated with EGFR antisense-odn, 7 with scrambled oligodeoxynucleotide (scrambled-odn), and 7 not treated in vivo. RESULTS:In vitro, after 24, 48, 72 hours the inhibitory rate of proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells treated with EGFR antisense-odn was 8%, 32%, and 34% respectively. In vivo after 8 weeks, no palpable tumor was found in 1/7 mice receiving cells pretreated with antisense-odn, whereas 7/7 untreated mice and 6/7 mice treated with scrambled-odn developed palpable tumors. Tumor growth in antisense-odn treated mice was significantly inhibited in comparison with that of those untreated (P【0.01) or treated with scram-bled-odn (P【0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide acts as a specific growth inhibitor on SMMC-7721 in a sequence specific and time-dependent manner. EGFR antisense-odn can significantly inhibit the proliferation of human hepatoma cell in vitro as well as in vivo, indicating that EGFR may play an important role in the development of hepatoma and will be a new target for its treatment.

Heparanase antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibits angiogenesis and metastasis of human mammary carcinoma cell xenografts in nude mice

Objective： To evaluate the inhibitory effect of heparanase antisense oligodeoxynucleotide （AS-ODN） on the angiogenesis and metastasis of human mammary carcinoma cell xenografts in nude mice. Methods： The AS-ODN complementary to the start codon region of heparanase mRNA and its control, scrambled nonsense oligodeoxynucleotide （NS-ODN） were designed and synthesized. A subcutaneous growth model and an acute hematogenous metastasis model of human mammary carcinoma were established in nude mice and were treated with ODNs. The heparanase expression in tumor was evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot. The microvessel density （MVD） was measured by immunohistochemistry for factor VS. The tumor volume was calculated and lung metastatic nodules were counted. Results ： The heparanase expression, MVD, tumor volume and lung metastatic nodules in AS-ODN treated group were significantly decreased compared with that in NS-ODN treated group and that in PBS group （P〈0.01）. Conclusion ： Heparanase AS-ODN has significant inhibitory effect on the angiogenesis and metastasis of human mammary carcinoma cell xenografts in nude mice.