The effect of p16 gene in the treatment of C 6 cerebral glioma in rats

Objective To study the role of connexin gene p16 in the suppression of C 6 glioma.Methods p16 gene depleted parental C 6 rats (control group) and C 6 cells transfected with p16 cDNA (tranfection group) were implant into the right caudate nucleus of C 6 rats.The rats bearing cerebral C 6 gliomas were treated with p16 cDNA (treatment group) and another group treated with empty vector (empty vector group) serving as control.The general manifestation,servival time,MRI dynamic scanning and histopathological changes in rats were observed.p16 mRNA and its protein were examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.Proliferation activity was monitored by the average number of AgNOR stain.Cell apoptosis was examined by the Tolt mediated x duTP nick end labeling TUNEL method.Results All rats in the control and empty vector group died of cerebral glioma within 3 weeks after implantation of C 6 cells.Six in the transfection group and 8 in the treatment group were alive beyond 120 days with complete dispearance of the tumour foci,except one in this group having some residue of the tumor.In the glioma of transfection and treatment groups,p16 gene expression was up regulated,proliferation activity reduced while the apoptotic cells did not increase.Conclusion The development of glioma is greatly suppressed by the transfection of the p16 gene expression,which has great effectiveness in rats bearing cerebral malignant gliomas.