Small interfering RNA mediated silencing of cytochrome P450 3A4 gene

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of the cytochrome P450 3A4(CYP3A4) gene expression and function in CHL-3A4 cells lines by vector-ecpressed small hairpin interfering RNA(shRNA).Methods The shRNA expression vectors targeting CYP 3A4 gene(CYP3A4Ⅰ,CYP3A4Ⅱ,CYP3A4Ⅲ) were designed and constructed.The inhibitory effect of shRNA was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR analysis.The inhibitory effect of cytotoxic of cyclophosphamide using shRNA was measured by MTT assay.Results CYP3A4Ⅲ shRNA expressing vector significantly reduced the CYP3A4 mRNA(70%) and protein expression levels(75%) of the CYP3A4 gene in CHL3A4 cells suppression of CYP3A4 gene expression by CYP3A4Ⅲ largely reversed cyclophosphamide cytotoxicity(75%) in CHL-3A4 cells.Conclusion Vector-based RNAi could suppress CYP3A4 gene expression and function,and the use of RNAi to inhibit CYP3A4 gene expression in mammalian cells was a promising new tool for the study of cytochrome P450 gene function.