title: Effects of suppressing glucose transporter-1 by an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1), a key rate-limiting factor in the transport and metabolism of glucose in cancer cells, is over-expressed in many human cancer cells and this over-expression is correlated with poor biological behavior. The increased levels of Glut-1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells functionally affect tumorigenicity. This study was undertaken to investigate effects of suppressing Glut-1 by an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) on the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2) cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used AS-ODN targeting against the Glut-1 gene in a HepG-2 cell line. There were four experimental groups: empty pcDNA3.1 vector (mock transfection), pcDNA3.1-anti-Glut (+), pcDNA3.1-Glut (+), and non-transfected HepG-2 cells. The Glut-1 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR and the Glut-1 protein expression by Western blotting after cell culture, and the glucose uptake was detected after glucose stimulation in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with non-transfected HepG-2 or Glut-1 pcDNA3.1, a down-regulation of Glut-1 mRNA in HepG-2 cells transfected with anti-Glut-1 pcDNA3.1 was noted (P<0.05). Glut-1 protein in HepG-2 cells transfected with Glut-1 AS-ODN was decreased compared with non-transfected HepG-2, Glut-1 pcDNA3.1, or empty vectors. Glucose uptake by the HepG-2 cells transfected with AS-ODN was decreased at 1 hour after glucose stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of Glut-1 AS-ODN can down-regulate the expression of Glut-1 at mRNA and protein, and inhibit glucose uptake partially in HepG-2 cells. The Glut-1 gene maybe a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Tian-Qi
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shu-Sen
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005947:Glucose / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005947:Glucose