Antitumor and antiangiogenic activities of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor hairpin ribozyme in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell cultures and xenografts.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effectiveness and mechanisms of anti- human vascular endothelial growth factor (hVEGF) hairpin ribozyme on angiogenesis, oncogenicity and tumor growth in a hepatocarcinoma cell line and a xenografted model.


METHODS
The artificial anti-hVEGF hairpin ribozyme was transfected into hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7,721 and, subsequently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to confirm the ribozyme gene integration and transcription. To determine the effects of ribozyme ,VEGF expression was detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR and enzyme liked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MTT assay was carried out to measure the cell proliferation. Furthermore,the transfected and control cells were inoculated into nude mice respectively, the growth of cells in nude mice and angiogenesis were observed.


RESULTS
VEGF expression was down-regulated sharply by ribozyme in transfected SMMC-7,721 cells and xenografted tumor. Compared to the control group, the transfected cells grew slower in cell cultures and xenografts, and the xenograft formation was delayed as well. In addition, the microvessel density of the xenografted tumor was obviously declined in the transfected group. As demonstrated by microscopy,reduction of VEGF production induced by ribozyme resulted in a significantly higher cell differentiation and less proliferation vigor in xenografted tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-hVEGF hairpin ribozyme can effectively inhibit VEGF expression and growth of hepatocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo. VEGF is functionally related to cell proliferation, differentiation and tumori-genesis in hepatocarcinoma.
Li
Li-Hua
LH
Oncology Institute of Wuxi, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 200 Huihe Road, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu Province, China.
Guo
Zi-Jian
ZJ
Yan
Ling-Ling
LL
Yang
Ji-Cheng
JC
Xie
Yu-Feng
YF
Sheng
Wei-Hua
WH
Huang
Zhao-Hui
ZH
Wang
Xue-Hao
XH
D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C418481:hairpin ribozyme