[Inhibitory effects of antisense oligonucleotides on VEGF gene expression by human hepatocellular carcinoma cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the inhibitory effects of antisense oligonucleotides to different sequences on VEGF gene expression by human hepatoma cells.


METHODS
SMMC7721 cells were cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions for 24 h, followed by being transfected with different antisense oligonucleotides (A06513 to cap structure, A06514 to translation initiation, A06515 to Exon-3 and A06516 to translation terminal). The total RNAs from the cells were extracted and the VEGF expression were examined with RT-PCR. The relative concentrations of VEGF transcripts in SMMC772 cells from different groups were determined using GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) cDNA as internal standard.


RESULTS
In response to the hypoxic challenge, SMMC7721 cells upregulated VEGF mRNA; Comparative to the control (no oligonucleotides), A06513, A06514, A06515, and A06516 had obvious sequence-specific inhibitory effect on VEGF gene expression, with the ratio of VEGF over GAPDH of 0.49+/-0.08, 0.71+/-0.12, 0.72+/-0.11 and 0.86+/-0.12, respectively (F=12.21, P< 0.05). A06513 showed the strongest inhibitory effect (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The antisense oligonucleotides complementary to VEGF cap structure, may become a potential alternative for antisense gene therapy of HCC.
Gong
Bang-dong
BD
Department of Gastrointerology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang 330006, China.
Luo
Wen
W
Du
Fang-teng
FT
Ye
Ru-mei
RM
Liu
Jing-mei
JM
Yu
Chun-gen
CG
Zou
Ye-qing
YQ
Zhang
Ji-xiang
JX
D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*
D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A