[Relationship between the expression of connexin 43 and bystander effect of suicide gene therapy in ovarian cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship of connexin 43(Cx43) and bystander effect in ovarian tumor cells in herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) gene therapy in vitro, and to investigate the effection of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) on expression of Cx43 and bystander effect.


METHODS
Cx43 expression was examined with flowcyto-metry, Western Blot, and immunofluorescence in two ovarian tumor cells OVCAR3, CAOV3 before and after RA treatment. Bystander effect was determined by the cells growth inhibitory rate with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium.


RESULTS
Following exposure to ganciclovir, there was much greater bystander killing in OVCAR3 than in CAOV3 (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 was detected in OVCAR3 with flowcytometry and Wstern Blot, but it could not be detected in CAOV3. The expression of Cx43 in both cell lines could be induced by RA. Immunofluorescence staining showed that OVCAR3 Cx43 protein is located in membrane surface, whereas CAOV3 is in cytoplasm. RA could not change the location of Cx43 protein in both cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
There is relationship between Cx43 expression and HSV-TK/GCV bystander effect. HSV-TK/GCV bystander effect can be inhanced by RA in ovarian cancer.
Zhang
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologic, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Science and Technology University, Wuhan 430030, China.
Lu
Y
Y
Wang
S
S
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018031:Connexin 43; D014212:Tretinoin; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D015774:Ganciclovir