Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor expression by RNA interference in A549 cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the biological features of A549 cells in which epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors expression were suppressed by RNA interference (RNAi).


METHODS
A549 cells were transfected using short small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) formulated with Lipofectamine 2000. The EGF receptor numbers were determined by Western blotting and flowcytometry. The antiproliferative effects of sequence specific double stranded RNA (dsRNA) were assessed using cell count, colony assay and scratch assay. The chemosensitivity of transfected cells to cisplatin was measured by MTT.


RESULTS
Sequence specific dsRNA-EGFR down-regulated EGF receptor expression dramatically. Compared with the control group, dsRNA-EGFR reduced the cell number by 85.0 %, decreased the colonies by 63.3 %, inhibited the migration by 87.2 %, and increased the sensitivity of A549 to cisplatin by four-fold.


CONCLUSIONS
Sequence specific dsRNA-EGFR were capable of suppressing EGF receptor expression, hence significantly inhibiting cellular proliferation and motility, and enhancing chemosensitivity of A549 cells to cisplatin. The successful application of dsRNA-EGFR for inhibition of proliferation in EGF receptor overexpressing cells can help extend the list of available therapeutic modalities in the treatment of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).
Zhang
Min
M
Lung Department of Zhong Shan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Zhang
Xin
X
Bai
Chun-Xue
CX
Chen
Jie
J
Wei
Min-Q
MQ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D002945:Cisplatin