[Effect of clock gene PER1 knockdown on clock gene networks in human oral squamous cell carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the effect of clock gene PER1 on the expression levels of other clock genes in clock gene networks in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.


METHODS
We used RNA interference mediated by short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) to effectively knock down PER1 in SCC15 human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the degree of proliferation and apoptosis of the cells after PER1 knockdown, and quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of the clock genes CLOCK, BMAL1, PER1, PER2, PER3, DEC1, DEC2, CRY1, CRY2, TIM, CKIE, RORA, NPAS2, and REV-ERBA.


RESULTS
The proliferation index of SCC15 cells increased significantly while the apoptotic index decreased significantly after PER1 knockdown (P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of PER1, PER2, DEC1, DEC2, CRY1, CRY2, and NPAS2 markedly decreased (P<0.05) while those of PER3, TIM, RORA, and REV-ERBA markedly increased (P<0.05). By contrast, no obvious changes were observed in the mRNA expression levels of CLOCK, BMAL1, and CKIE (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The clock gene PER1 can regulate the expression levels of other clock genes in the clock gene networks; these genes include PER2, DEC1, DEC2, CRY1, CRY2, NPAS2, PER3, TIM, RORA, and REV-ERBA. PER1 gene thus plays an important role in the regulation of clock gene networks. .
Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Zhao
Z
Qin
Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Ao
A
Yiran
Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Yang
Y
Kai
Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Su
S
Xiaoli
Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Lü
L
Xiaoqiang
D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
circadian clock; gene; oral cavity; squamous cell carcinoma