Silencing of AP-4 inhibits proliferation, induces cell cycle arrest and promotes apoptosis in human lung cancer cells.
Activating enhancer-binding protein (AP)-4 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, and is involved in tumor biology. However, the role of AP-4 in human lung cancer remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, the expression of AP-4 in human lung cancer tissues and cells was investigated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and it was observed that the level of AP-4 was increased in tumor tissues and cells compared with their normal counterparts. AP-4 expression was knocked down by transfection with a specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in lung cancer cells, and this indicated that siRNA-mediated silencing of AP-4 inhibited cell proliferation, arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and induced apoptosis by modulating the expression of p21 and cyclin D1. The results of the present study suggest that AP-4 may be an oncoprotein that has a significant role in lung cancer, and that siRNA-mediated silencing of AP-4 may have therapeutic potential as a strategy for the treatment of lung cancer.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, P.R. China.
Xuanyu
X
Hu
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Henan Academy of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
Wei
W
Guo
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
Shanshan
S
Chen
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, P.R. China.
Yizhuo
Y
Xu
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
Ping
P
Li
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
Huaqi
H
Wang
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
Heying
H
Chu
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
Juan
J
Li
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, P.R. China.
Yuwen
Y
DU
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, P.R. China.
Xiaonan
X
Chen
Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China.
Guojun
G
Zhang
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, P.R. China.
Guoqiang
G
Zhao
RNA interference; activating enhancer-binding protein-4; lung cancer