Effect of Survivin-siRNA on the drug sensitivity of osteosarcoma cell line MG-63

Objective To explore the effect of Survivin-siRNA on the sensitivity of osteosarcoma cell line MG-63. Methods Two survivin siRNAs (siRNA1, siRNA2) which are the specifically targeted survivin genes were chemically synthesized and transfected into MG-63 cells. Survivin mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM), and 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of adriamycin (ADM) and diamminedichloroplantinum (DDP) on MG-63 cells was determined with the MTT method. Results The expression level of survivin mRNA was significantly inhibited 24 hours after MG-63 cells were transfected with siRNA. Cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate of MG-63 cells was significantly higher in survivin-siRNA group than in nonspecific siRNA and empty vector group 48 hours after transition with survivin-siRNA (23.7%±1.5%, 25.8%±2.3%, 7.6%±0.7%, or 5.2%±0.3%, F=17.32, P0.01). Specific survivin-siRNA increased 5 folds of the sensitivity of MG-63 cells to ADM and 9 folds to DDP. Conclusion Chemically synthesized short survivin-siRNA can effectively inhibit the expression of survivin gene in osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and enhance the sensitivity of MG-63 cells to ADM and DDP.