RNA interference-mediated silencing of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit attenuates growth of human ovarian cancer cells in vitroand in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a critical role in ovarian cancer cell survival and proliferation. The aim of this study was to determine whether the suppression of the PI3K catalytic subunit p110alphainhibits the growth of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.


METHODS
The short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to knock down the expression of p110alpha in SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells. The effects of shRNA on cell viability and apoptosis in vitro were assessed using the MTT assay and flow-cytometric analysis. Furthermore, the growth inhibition capacity of shRNA on ovarian carcinoma xenografts was tested in nude mice. Tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis were measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen, TUNEL and CD31 immunohistochemistry, respectively.


RESULTS
Using sequence-specific shRNA, we have silenced the expression of p110alpha in SKOV3 cells. shRNA-mediated knockdown of p110alpha correlated in vitro with decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of p110alpha significantly delayed the growth of ovarian carcinoma xenografts, and ultimately resulted in decreased cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis as well as a reduction in microvessel density.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that shRNA-directed targeting of p110alpharaises the potential of its application in human ovarian cancer therapy.
Zhang
Xi
X
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
Deng
Hong-Xin
HX
Zhao
Xia
X
Su
Dan
D
Chen
Xian-Chen
XC
Chen
Li-Juan
LJ
Wei
Yu-Quan
YQ
Zhong
Qian
Q
Li
Zheng-Yu
ZY
He
Xiang
X
Yi
Tao
T
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D058534:Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D058534:Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; C484760:PIK3CA protein, human