[p16 gene suppresses growth of human esophageal carcinoma cells].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of p16 gene on the growth inhibition of esophageal carcinoma cell line NEC.


METHODS
The full length of wild-type p16 cDNA was transfected into the esophageal carcinoma cell line of human fetus induced by N-methyl-N-benzylnitrosamine (NMBzA). In these esophageal carcinoma cell, p16 gene was homozygously deleted.


RESULTS
Expression of exogenous p16 gene in NEC cells was identified by dot blot and Western blot analyses. The growth rate of NEC transfected with p16 gene (NEC-p16) was markedly suppressed. Colony formation in soft agar was also decreased significantly. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry showed that the number of cells in G1-G0 phase of NEC-p16 cells was significantly increased while cells in S and G2 + M phase was decreased compared to that of the control NEC cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Transduction of wild type p16 gene into p16 gene-depleted esophageal cancer cells can restore its suppressive effect on cell growth by arrest of cell cycle at G1 phase.
Peng
Q
Q
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021.
Jin
S
S
Lu
S
S
D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019942:Genes, p16; D006801:Humans; D014162:Transfection