Effects of silencing glypican- 3 gene transcription on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatoma cells

Objective To investigate the effects of silencing glypican-3( GPC-3) gene transcription by shRNA on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatoma cells. Methods GPC- 3- shRNA was inserted into pGPU6 / GFP/ Neo vector,and HepG2 cells were transfected with the vector.The mRNA and protein expression of GPC- 3 was measured by fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot; the proliferation of HepG2 cells was evaluated by MTT assay; the cell cycle and apoptosis of HepG2 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry,Annexin- V- PE /7- AAD staining,and apoptotic DNA ladder kit. Results After the HepG2 cells were transfected with GPC- 3- shRNA,the GPC- 3 mRNA silencing rate was up to 89. 3%,in accordance with the down- regulation of GPC- 3 protein; the proliferation inhibition rate of HepG2 cells was as high as 71. 1%; the HepG2 cells were arrested in G1 phase,and the apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells reached 65. 6%. Conclusion Silencing GPC- 3 gene transcription by shRNA can significantly inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of hepatoma cells.