RNA interference of BAX gene inhibits apoptosis of rat chondrocytes and its possible mechanism

Objective RNA interference silencing of BAX gene expression via the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis of rat chondrocyte.Methods SD rat cartilage cells were isolated and cultured;expression of silence gene BAX was interfered with BAX siRNA;expression level of mRNA and proteins was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot;cell activity was tested by MTT assay;apoptosis rate was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double labeling assay;expression level of BCL-2,Cytochrome C proteins was detected by Western blot.Results After interfering with BAX siRNA for 24 h,BAX mRNA and protein expression was 1.030±0.153,0.359±0.089 in experiment group,and 1.836±0.164,0.766±0.082 in control group,they were significantly reduced(P0.01).Apoptosis was inhibited,and cell survival rate increased.The apoptosis rate was 2.87%,20.07%,9.21% and 21.19% in control group,model group,model+BAX siRNA group and model+control siRNA group respectively.Moreover,in cells which silenced at BAX gene,Cytochrome C protein level decreased,while expression of BCL-2 protein level elevated.Conclusions To interfere silence gene BAX with RNA can inhibit apoptosis of rat chondrocytes and promote their survival,which may be explained by a mitochondrial pathway.