Effect of siRNA transfection targeting VEGF gene on proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer cells

    ZHANG Xiao, XU Wenª²hua, GE Yinª²lin*, HOU Lin, LI Quan

    Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China

    \[Abstract\] AIM: To explore the effect of RNA interferenceª²mediated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene silencing on proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer MCFª²7 cells. METHODS: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting VEGF gene was designed and DNA template was synthesized, then siRNA was obtained by in vitro transcription. After dsª²siRNA was transfected into MCFª²7 cells with Lipofectamine, the proliferation of MCFª²7 cells was detected by MTT colorimetry, and the apoptosis was measured by Hoechst33258 staining. The change of cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of VEGF on mRNA and protein level was analyzed by RTª²PCR and immunohistochemical technology respectively. RESULTS: The siRNA targeting human VEGF gene effectively inhibited the proliferation of MCFª²7 cells, induced cell apoptosis, arrested the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase, and decreased the expression of VEGF on both mRNA and protein level. But these effects did not appear in scrambled siRNA (siRNASCR) control group. CONCLUSION: The siRNA targeting human VEGF gene could reduce VEGF expression, inhibit cellular proliferation and induce apoptosis in MCFª²7 cells in vitro. ......