INHIBITION OF ACTIVATED K-RAS GENE BY SIRNA EXPRESSION CASSETTES IN HUMAN PANCREATIC CARCINOMA CELL LINE MIAPACA-2

Objective: To construct the small interfering RNA(siRNA) expression cassettes (SECs) targeting activated K-ras gene sequence and investigate the effects of SECs on K-ras gene in human pancreatic cancer cell line MIAPaCa-2. Methods: Three different sites of SECs were constructed by PCR. The K1/siRNA, K2/siRNA and K3/siRNA were located at the site 194, 491 and 327, respectively. They were transfected into MiaPaCa-2 cells by liposome to inhibit the expression of activated K-ras. In the interfering groups of site 194,491, we observed the cytopathic effect of confluent MiaPaCa-2 cells after they were incubated for 48 hours, and detected the apoptosis in cells by FACS, then we tested the alternation of K-ras gene in confluent MiaPaCa-2 cells by RT-PCR,immunofluorescence and western blot, respectively. Results: Introductions of the K1/siRNA and K2/siRNA against K-ras into MiaPaCa-2 cells led to cytopathic effect, slower proliferation and increased apoptosis, while the appearances of control MiaPaCa-2 cells remained well. The number of apoptotic cells increased compared with control cells. RT-PCR,immunofluorescence and western blot showed the effects of inhibited expression of activated K-ras gene by RNA interference in the K1/siRNA and K2/siRNA groups. We also found that the introduction of K3/siRNA had no effect on MiaPaCa-2 cells. Conclusion: K1/siRNA and K2/siRNA can inhibit the expression of activated K-ras and decrease the growth of MiaPaCa-2 cells, while K3/siRNA has no such effect, demonstrating that the suppression of tumor growth by siRNA is sequence-specific. We conclude that K-ras is involved in maintenance of tumor growth of human pancreatic cancer, and SECs against K-ras expression may be a powerful tool to be used therapeutically against human pancreatic cancer.

Identification of effective siRNA against K-ras in human pancreatic cancer cell line MiaPaCa-2 by siRNA expression cassette

AIM: We shall construct the small interfering RNA (siRNA) expression cassette (SEC) targeting activated K-ras gene sequence, identify more effective siRNA sequence against K-ras gene in human pancreatic cancer cell line MiaPaCa-2 by SEC and reveal the anti-cancer effects of RNA interference (RNAi) and its therapeutic possibilities. METHODS: Three different sites of SECs were constructed by PCR. K1/siRNA,K2/siRNA and K3/siRNA are located at sites 194,491 and 327, respectively. They were transfected into MiaPaCa-2 cells by liposome to inhibit the expression of activated K-ras. In the interfering groups of sites 194 and 491, we detected the apoptosis in cells by FACS after they were incubated for 48 h, then we tested the alternation of K-ras gene in MiaPaCa-2 cells by RT-PCR immunofluorescence, respectively. RESULTS: Introduction of the Kl/siRNA and K2/siRNA against K-ras into MiaPaCa-2 cells leads to increased apoptosis, and the number of apoptotic cells is increased compared with control cells. The tests of RT-PCR immunofluorescence show the effects of inhibiting expression of activated K-ras gene by RNA interference in the Kl/siRNA and K2/siRNA groups. We also find that the introduction of K3/siRNA has no effect on MiaPaCa-2 cells. CONCLUSION: Kl/siRNA and K2/siRNA can inhibit the expression of activated K-ras but K3/siRNA has no effect, demonstrating that Kl/siRNA and K2/siRNA are effective sequences against K-ras gene and K3/siRNA are not. We conclude that specific siRNA against K-ras expression may be a powerful tool to be used therapeutically against human pancreatic cancer.

Expression Silence of DNA Repair Gene hMGMT Induced by RNA Interference

Objective： MGMT protein expression has been associated with tumor resistance to alkylating agents. The objective of this paper is to construct the RNA interference vector which can specifically induce the expression silence of human DNA repair gene hMGMT. Methods： The hMGMT specific siRNA expression cassette was made by two steps PCR, linked with pUCI 9 to get pU6-MGMTi, co-transfected with pEGFP-CI into 16HBE and screened by G418. The MGMT mRNA and protein levels were detected by RT-PCR and Western Blot respectively. Results： hMGMT specific RNA interfere vector pU6-MGMTi was constructed successfully. In transfected 16HBE cells MGMT mRNA level could hardly be detected and the protein level was only 10% of control. Conclusion： MGMT specific RNAi expression cassette can effectively inhibit MGMT expression. MGMT silence cell line was built by co-transfection technology, which offered condition for studying the gene function of MGMT.