[Influence of transfection of sense- and antisense-cyclin A gene on human squamous cell carcinoma of tongue].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of human sense- and antisense-cyclin A gene on human squamous cell carcinoma of tongue cell line (Tca 8113). METHODS: Tca8113 cells were transfected with an expression vector containing a full length human sense-cyclin A or antisense-cyclin A gene by gene transfer with DNA-liposome. A series of methods, such as the changes of cell proliferation, DNA-flow cytometric analysis, silver binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and expressions of cyclin A and Ki-67 were studied on transfected cell and untransfected cell. RESULTS: The cells transfected by antisense-cyclin A gene showed growth inhibition in vitro and decreased proliferation. The proliferation index(PI) was reduced (0.231 vs 0.421) as compared with untransfected cell group, and FCM analysis showed that Tca8113 cells transfected with antisense-cyclin A were arrested at G0/1 phase. The mechanism of such changes described might be associated with the lower expression of cyclin A mRNA in antisense-cyclin A gene transfected cells. However, opposing changes were observed in the sense-cyclin A gene transfected cells. CONCLUSIONS: Antisense cyclin A could inhibit target gene expression and partly reverse malignant phenotype of squamous cell carcinoma of tongue.