[Effects of specific small interfering RNA on Smoothened expression and LoVo cell proliferation and apoptosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) on Smoothened (Smo) gene expression and the proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer LoVo cells. METHODS: Three different siRNAs (siRNA-1, siRNA-2, and siRNA-3, respectively) were transfected into LoVo cells via cationic liposome, and the changes of Smo mRNA level were determined using semi-quantitative RT-PCR 48 h after transfection. Flow cytometry and MTT assay were performed to assess the effect of the siRNAs on the proliferation and apoptosis of LoVo cells. RESULTS: Forty-eight hours after Smo siRNA-1 transfection, Smo mRNA expression in LoVo cells decreased by about 63.56%, a reduction significantly greater than that in cells transfected with the other two siRNAs. The cell proliferation decreased significantly after Smo siRNA-1 transfection in comparison with the control cells, and 48 h after transfection, significantly higher apoptosis rate was observed in Smo siRNA-1-transfected cells than in the control cells. CONCLUSION: Specific siRNA can significantly decrease Smo mRNA expression and inhibit the proliferation while inducing apoptosis of LoVo cells.