Inhibitory effect of siRNA targeting survivin on the growth of human squamous carcinoma cells

To investigate the inhibitory effect of siRNA targeting survivin on apoptosis and proliferation of human squamous carcinoma cells,the constructed siRNA expression vector targeting survivin pRNAT-H1.1 was transfected with lipofectamine 2000 liposome.The mRNA expression of surviving in A431 cells was detected by RT-PCR,and the expression of surviving protein was detected by Western blotting.The Annexin V-labeled apoptotic cells and the cell cycle of A431.Cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and the proliferative activities of A431 cells were measured by MTT method.As demonstrated by RT-PCR analysis,the transfected siRNA expression plasmid could inhibit significantly the expression the survivin gene in transcription and translation level in comparison with the un-treated A431 cells.The apoptotic cell rate of the siRNA expression plasmid group increased markedly up to 21.3%,and the rates of inhibition in cell proliferation were also significantly increased in a time-dependent manner.In addition,analysis of cell cycle demonstrated a marked blockage of the G2/M stage of the A431 cells treated with siRNA expression plasmid.It is concluded that siRNA against survivin gene can induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of human squamous carcinoma cells.thus it may provide a rational approach in gene therapy for human squamous carcinoma.