title: Regression of hepatocarcinoma cells using RNA aptamer specific to alpha-fetoprotein.
abstract: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a cancer-associated fetal protein and has long been utilized as a serum fetal defect/tumor marker to monitor distress/disease progression. In addition, AFP is closely associated with the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, direct targeting of AFP has been recommended for a therapeutic strategy against hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we developed and characterized an RNA aptamer that specifically bound to the alpha-fetoprotein using SELEX technology. The aptamer interacted with the AFP with a K(D) of ∼33 nM. Importantly, the identified aptamer specifically and efficiently inhibited the AFP-mediated proliferation of hepatocarcinoma cells in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, the aptamer efficiently down-regulated AFP-induced expression of oncogenes in the cells. These results indicate that an AFP-specific RNA aptamer could be a useful therapeutic and diagnostic agent against AFP-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Nanosensor and Biotechnology, Dankook University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seong-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins