Influence of silencing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α gene on proliferation, invasion and metastasis of glioblastoma U87 cells

Objective To observe the influence of silencing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)gene on the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of glioblastoma U87 cells. Methods The samples were divided into 3 groups: blank group: samples without giving any treatments, control group: cells with empty shRNA vector, and experimental group: cells with HIF-1α-shRNA transfection complex. HIF-1α gene was silenced by shRNA constructed in early time; and HIF-1α-shRNA lentivirus vector was constructed in the experimental group, and then transfected into glioblastoma U87 cells with the mediation of liposome. The interference efficiency was detected by using RT-PCR and Western blotting, and cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay; cell migration in vitro was observed by migration test, and invasion and metastasis abilities were detected by Transwell booth model. Results As compared with those in cells of the control and blank groups, the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α in cells of the experimental group were significantly decreased; MTT assay showed that the cell proliferation in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the other 2 groups (P<0.05). The number of penetrating cells of the blank group, control group and experimental group in Transwell chamber invasion assay were (125.2±10.8), (118.3±8.3), (60.9±5.4), respectively, and significant differences were noted between each 2 groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The mRNA and protein levels of HIF-1α in U87 cells are efficiently depressed by HIF-1α-shRNA, and so are the proliferation, invasion and metastasis abilities of U87 cells. Key words: Glioma;  Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α;  U87;  ShRNA