title: RNAi-mediated knockdown of the c-jun gene sensitizes radioresistant human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2R to radiation.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effect of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated downregulation of the expression of the c-jun gene (a proto-oncogene) on the radiosensitivity of a radioresistant human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line (CNE-2R) and to validate its potential as an anticancer target. A lentiviral vector with c-jun small hairpin RNA (shRNA) was constructed and transfected into CNE-2R cells. The gene silencing efficiency of these recombinants was confirmed by RT-PCR and western blotting. Radiosensitivity, cell proliferation, cell cycle profile and apoptosis were assessed using colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The lentiviral shRNA efficiently knocked down the expression of c-jun at both the mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). c-jun-downregulated CNE-2R cells exhibited significantly decreased cell proliferation and enhanced radiosensitivity compared to the control group (P<0.05), and the effects were likely due to G2/M phase arrest and enhanced cell apoptosis. These data provide evidence that c-jun may be involved in the radioresistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and knockdown of the c-jun gene may be a potential strategy to enhance the radiation sensitivity of NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Cancer Institute of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Si-Yan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Cancer Institute of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Cancer Institute of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lian-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Cancer Institute of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Cancer Institute of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Cancer Institute of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, Shaanxi 710049, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002277:Carcinoma; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D016758:Genes, jun / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering