Inhibitory effects of RNA interference on hTERT gene in colon cancer HT-29 cells

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of RNA interference on the human telomer-ase reverse transcriptase gene in colon cancer cells. Methods Colon cancer HT-29 cells were divided into control group,N-hTERT group, Lipofectamine group,and sihTERT group. The activity of telomerase,and expression of hTERT mRNA and protein were detected before and after siRNA was transfected into HT-29 cells. Flow cytometry was used to observe the proliferation and apoptosis of HT-29 cells. Results The transfection efficiency of siRNA was 60%. The activity of telomerase, the expression levels of hTERT mR-NA and protein, and apeptosis rate in sihTERT group were 0.73±0.14,0.47±0.08,0.37±0.07, and 49.5% respectively,which were significantly different from those in other three groups (P<0.01). Con-clusion siRNA targeting hTERT can specificly scilence the hTERT gene of colon cancer cells by down-regulating the expression of hTERT mRNA and protein, and suppressing the telomerase activity. RNAi can inhibit the proliferation of the cancer cells and induce their apoptosis. Key words: Colon carcinoma;  Telomerase reverse transcriptase;  RNA interference