title: Effects of HSP70 antisense oligonucleotide on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: The study investigated the effects of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) on the proliferation and apoptosis of a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (SMMC-7721 cells) in vitro. HSP70 oligonucleotide was transfected into SMMC-7721 cells by the mediation of Sofast transfection reagent. Inhibition rate of SMMC-7721 cells was determined by using MTT method. Apoptosis rate and cell cycle distribution were measured by flow cytometry. Immunocytochemistry staining was used to observe the expression of HSP70, Bcl-2 and Bax. The results showed that HSP70 ASODN at various concentrations could significantly inhibit the growth of SMMC-7721 cells, and the inhibition effect peaked 48 h after transfection with 400-nmol/L HSP70 ASODN. Cytometric analysis showed the apoptotic rate was increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner in the HSP70 ASODN-treated cells. The percentage of cells in the G2/M and S phases was significantly decreased and that in the G0/G1 phase increased as the HSP70 ASODN concentration was elevated and the exposure time prolonged. Immunocytochemistry showed that treatment of SMMC-7721 cells with HSP70 ASODN resulted in decreased expressions of HSP70 and Bcl-2 proteins, and an increased expression of Bax protein. It was concluded that the HSP70 ASODN can inhibit the growth of the SMMC-7721 cells and increase cell apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of HSP70. HSP70 ASODN holds promise for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China. 361yangxue@163.com
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Haibin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Qingguang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense