Inhibition of the expression of hTERT gene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by small interfering RNA

Objective To explore the effect of RNA interference(RNAi) on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells,the effective positions in hTERT gene for RNAi,and to discuss the future application of RNAi in the gene therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinorma.Methods Small interfering RNAs(siRNA) targeting hTERT gene was synthesized by Turboscript~(TM) T7 Transcription kit,and siRNA was transfected into CNE-2 cells by using GeneSilencer~(TM) siRNA transfection reagent.The hTERT mRNA and hTERT ptotein were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blotting respectively.Thiazolyl blue(MTT) assay was used to determine the inhibitory effect of siRNA on cell growth and flow cytometry was used to observe the apoptosis induced by siRNA.Results After the transfection of CNE-2 cells,the expressions of hTERT mRNA and hTERT protein were down-regulated at different degree.Meanwhile,the cell cycle was suffocated at G_0-G_1 stage and cell apoptosis was induced.Conclusion The synthesized siRNA can effectively interfere nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by down-regulation the expressions of the hTERT mRNA and its protein,therefore can inhibit the growth of the cells and induce their apoptosis.Future application of RNAi in the gene therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma might be expected.