Effects of inhibition of ERCC1 expression by RNA interference on chemotherapy sensitivity of lung cancer A549 cell line

OBJECTIVE:To study the inhibition of ERCC1 expression by RNA interference to improve chemotherapy sensitivity of lung cancer A549 cell line.METHODS:The small interference RNA (siRNA) of ERCC1 expression vector was established. The established vectors were transfect into lung cancer cells (A549) by the liposome transfection reagent. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to confirm whether the siRNA silenced the expression of ERCC1 in A549 cells. The characteristics of drug resistance in transfection cells were measured by MTT assay.RESULTS:siRNA of ERCC1 expression vector was constructed successfully. RT-PCR and Western blotting assay showed that the expression of ERCC1 in transfected A549 cells was significantly lower than that in A549 cells by 48.3%,P0.05. The values of IC50 of A549 cells to chemotherapy drugs(DDP) were 2.93 times higher than A549/vecter cells.CONCLUSIONS:The RNA interference to ERCC1 gene is a good method to silence expression of ERCC1 in lung cancer cells. Inhibiting the expression of ERCC1 can enhance sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs in lung cancer cells. It may be an available therapeutic method in the treatment of lung cancer.