title: [Activation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) by small activating RNA inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in BEL-7402 hepatoma cell].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the anti neoplastic effects of p21(WAF1/CIP1) transcriptional activation induced by duplex RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line BEL-7402.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells were treated with dsRNAs complementary to promoter sequences of p21(WAF1/CIP1). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of p21. At various timepoints post-transfection, cell viability assay and apoptosis analysis were used to determine the effect of RNA activation. After transfection Western blot was also performed to detect the expression of Bcl-xL, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved PARP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DsP21-322 transfection significantly inhibited cell viability. And, at Day 5, dsP21-322 inhibited cell growth by 65.84% versus control. Flow cytometry revealed that dsP21-322 caused a significant increase of cell apoptosis. The total percent of apoptotic cells (UR+LR) increased to 36.86% versus 11.51% and 14.06% in mocks and controls respectively. Such phenomena correlated with a decrease of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL and an increase of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved PARP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activation of p21 gene expression by saRNA may offer therapeutic benefits for HCC and other cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Guangzhou, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhuowei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhengzheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Guojin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China. Email: chgan305@163.com.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9