title: VEGF-targeted RNA interference suppresses angiogenesis and tumor growth of retinoblastoma.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important angiogenic growth factors for tumor angiogenesis which has been verified to be involved in neovascularization of retinoblastoma. Here, we sought to explore whether RNA interference (RNAi) targeting VEGF could inhibit retinoblastoma angiogenesis and tumor growth. Stable transfection of the two human retinoblastoma cell lines SO-RB50 and HXO-RB44 with VEGF-targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) expression plasmid significantly inhibited VEGF expression determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot, whereas the control transfection showed no effects. The chemically synthesized VEGF siRNA dramatically suppressed tumor angiogenesis (CD34 immunohistochemistry) and tumor growth in the SO-RB50 subcutaneous xenograft model. Significant downregulation of VEGF expression both on messenger RNA and protein levels in VEGF-siRNA-treated SO-RB50 subcutaneous xenograft was confirmed by real-time PCR and Western blot compared to control. Our data demonstrate the suppression function on angiogenesis and tumor growth of retinoblastoma by VEGF-targeted RNAi. This novel therapeutic strategy promises to play a part in the clinical management of retinoblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: L Z
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: X Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015536:Down-Regulation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D018390:Gene Targeting; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000187:drug effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse