Effects of siRNA VEGF gene silencing on the VEGF protein expression level of the transplanted renal tumor in nude mice

Objective To investigate the effect of siRNA vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) gene silencing on the VEGF protein expression level and tumor development in a xenograft model of renal cell carcinoma.Methods The VEGF-siRNA sequence was chemosynthezed and selected in vitro in the previous experiments.The ACHN cells were transfected with selected VEGF-siRNA in Group A;transfected with plasmid DNA in Group B,and without transfection in Group C using liposome as vector.The nude mice were raised in SPF environment,and were observed on development of the transplanted tumor.The tumor dimension(length L,width W,and the volume V=1/2 LW2) was recorded every 5 days,while the tumor growth curve was drawn at the same time to show the inhibitory effects of siRNA on the tumor growth.The VEGF protein expression in the tissue section of the transplanted tumor in mice was also tested through immunohistochemistry method and Western blot test was used to analyze the silencing effects of siRNA on VEGF expression.Results The transplanted tumor developed and grew slowly in Group A.The tumor volume and weight of Group A were significantly lower than Group B and C(P0.05).The VEGF protein expression in Group A was significantly inhibited as indicated by the immunohistochemistry test and Western blot test(P0.05),while the Group B and Group C showed no significant difference in neither tumor volume and weight or VEGF protein expression(P0.05).Conclusion The VEGF plays a important role in the development and growth of renal cancer.The VEGF-siRNA showed specific inhibitory effect on the VEGF expression and tumor development in a xenograft model of renal cell carcinoma.