[Tumor-targeted human telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter/tk gene therapy against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the targeted killing effect of human telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter (hTERTp)/tk gene on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells.


METHODS
The recombinant plasmid hTERTp/tk/pGL3 was transfected into human NPC HNE1 cells and the expressions of TK and telomerase were investigated. The targeted killing effect induced by hTERTp/tk on HNE1 cells was assessed using RT-PCR and MTT assay.


RESULTS
TK gene expression was detected in HNE1 cells transfected by hTERTp/tk/pGL3, and the cells showed reduced telomerase and hTERT expression as compared with the control cells. hTERTp/tk/pGL3 resulted in target killing of HNE1 cells but not of the normal control cells. The tumor cell-killing effect of hTERTp/tk/pGL3 was slightly milder than that of the positive control CMV/tk/pGL3 that produced nonselective cell killing.


CONCLUSIONS
hTERTp/tk, a tumor-specific expression system, allows targeted tumor cell killing and reduces the activity of telomerase in NPC cells in vitro.
Xu
Fang
F
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China. xufang3196@yahoo.com.cn
Wen
Zhong
Z
Qiu
Yuan-zheng
YZ
Xiao
Jian-yun
JY
Zhao
Su-ping
SP
Guo
Meng-he
MH
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018390:Gene Targeting; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics*; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
D013937:Thymidine Kinase; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase