title: [Neuron specific enolase gene silencing suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis of lung cancer cells in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of neuron specific enolase (NSE) gene silencing on the cell proliferation and apoptosis of lung cancer cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  NSE protein expression was detected in human small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H446 and non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 by immunocytochemistry, and a small interference RNA (siRNA) was transfected into the cells to inhibit NSE gene expression. The changes in the cell cycle, apoptosis, Ki67 protein and caspase-3 activity in the transfected cells were observed by flow cytometry, Western blotting and colorimetric assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both A549 and NCI-H446 cells expressed NSE protein. Transfection of siRNA for NSE gene significantly inhibited the expression of NSE gene in the cells, resulting in an inhibition rate exceeding 90%. NSE gene silencing caused significantly decreased cell percentage in S phase and the expression of Ki67 protein, and increased the cell apoptotic rate and caspase-3 activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NSE gene expression promotes the cell proliferation and inhibits the cell apoptosis in lung cancer cells with neuroendocrine differentiation, which might be a causative factor contributing to increased malignancy of the cells.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Guiyang Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China. jianjiangzhou@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jian-jiang
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhen-xing
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000235:genetics*; D034622:RNA Interference; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase