Effects of interferon-inducible protein 16 on proliferation and migration of human brain vascular adventitial fibroblasts

AIM: To investigate the effects of interferon-inducible protein 16(IFI16) on the proliferation and migration of human brain vascular adventitial fibroblasts(HBVAFs).METHODS: The siRNA of IFI16 gene was transfected into HBVAFs.Forty-eight hours after transfection,the cells were exposed to 2×106 U/L interferon alpha(IFN-α) for 24 h.Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry.Cell migration was determined by scratch assay and transwell method.The mRNA and protein levels of IFI16,p53 and p21 were measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively.RESULTS: After transfection with IFI16 siRNA,the expression of IFI16,p53 and p21 at mRNA and protein levels was decreased in HBVAFs,and the cell cycle at G1/S transition was promoted.Meanwhile,stimulated with IFN-α up-regulated the expression of IFI16,p53 and p21 at mRNA and protein levels,and inhibited the cell cycle transition at G1/S and cell migration in HBVAFs.Such effect was restrained by transfection with IFI16 siRNA into HBVAFs.CONCLUSION: The expression of IFI16 inhibits the proliferation and migration of HBVAFs,which may be related to the activation of p53 and p21 expression.