RNA interference-mediated silencing of focal adhesion kinase inhibits growth of human malignant glioma xenograft in nude mice.
FAK (focal adhesion kinase), which plays a pivotal role in mediating cell proliferation, survival and migration, is frequently overexpressed in human malignant glioma. The expression of FAK increases with the advance of tumour grade and stage. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that attenuation of FAK expression may have inhibitory effects on the growth of malignant glioma. In the present study, human glioma cell line U251 was transfected with plasmids containing U6 promoter-driven shRNAs (small-hairpin RNAs) against human FAK using cationic liposome. The effects of FAK knockdown in U251 cells in vitro were analysed by using flow cytometry and PI (propidium iodide)-staining assays. Based on the encouraging in vitro results with FAK silencing, plasmids encoding FAK-targeted shRNA were encapsulated by DOTAP (dioleoyltrimethylammonium propane):Chol (cholesterol) cationic liposome and injected via tail vein to evaluate its therapeutic efficiency on suppressing tumour growth in a human glioma xenograft model. PCNA (proliferating-cell nuclear antigen), CD34 immunostaining and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling) assay were used to assess the changes in tumour angiogenesis, apoptosis and proliferation respectively. The results indicated that DOTAP:Chol cationic liposome could deliver therapeutic plasmids systemically to tumour xenografts, resulting in suppression of tumour growth. Treatment with plasmid encoding FAK-targeted shRNA reduced mean tumour volume by approx. 70% compared with control groups (P<0.05), accompanied with angiogenesis inhibition (P<0.05), tumour cell proliferation suppression (P<0.05) and apoptosis induction (P<0.05). Taken together, our results demonstrated that shRNA-mediated silencing of FAK might be a potential therapeutic approach against human malignant glioma.
State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital and West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, Peoples Republic of China.
Guan-Jie
GJ
Wang
Yong-Ping
YP
Ma
Yang
Y
Yang
Na
N
Zhang
Wei
W
Wang
Sheng-Yong
SY
Liu
Li-Juan
LJ
Chen
Yu
Y
Jiang
Xia
X
Zhao
Yu-Quan
YQ
Wei
Hong-Xin
HX
Deng
D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics*; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005910:Glioma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008081:Liposomes; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D008081:Liposomes; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases