In vitro study of RNA interference on vif gene of HIV-1

Objective In order to explore the potential effects of gene therapy for HIV-1 treatment and precaution,we studied the suppression of RNA interference on HIV-1 vif protein by directing vif to post-transcriptional level. Methods siRNAs,synthesized by transcription in vitro,and the plasmid expressing vif gene and EGFP were cotransfected into HEK 293T cell,to express the vif protein and investigate the suppression effect of siRNA on HIV-1 vif under fluorescent microscope.This effect was confirmed by real-time PCR at transcription level and Western blot at expression level. Results HIV-1 vif protein exhibited high expression in HEK 293T cells after transfecting pEGFP-N1-HIV-1/vif plamid into HEK 293T cell alone;the three siRNAs designed in this study targeted to vif suppressed HIV-1 vif protein expression specifically. Conclusions The use of RNAi,a new gene therapy tool,was proved to be useful in inhibiting HIV-1 vif expression.This technique deserves further study as a potential therapeutic tool for HIV-1.