Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 knock-down inhibits proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the abnormal expression of interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the effect of IFITM3 knock-down on the biological behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining were used to determine the expression of IFITM3 protein in 60 HCC samples and paired adjacent tissues. A small interfering RNA fragments of IFITM3 (IFITM3 siRNA) was transiently transfected into HepG2 cells and expressions of IFITM3 at mRNA and protein levels were examined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The changes in the proliferation of the transfected cells were determined using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) assay, and the cell invasion and migration were tested using Transwell assay and wound-healing assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the adjacent tissues, HCC tissues expressed significantly higher levels of IFITM3. In HepG2 cells, transfection with IFITM3 siRNA resulted in significant down-regulation of IFITM3 expression at both the protein and mRNA levels and obviously suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration ability as compared with the cells transfected with scrambled siRNA and control cells (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IFITM3, which is overexpressed in HCC, plays a vital role in the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells and may serve as a potential target for gene therapy of HCC.</p>

Inhibitory effect of humanized anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv-As2O3-stealth nanoparticles conjugate on growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma: in vitro and in vivo studies

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the inhibitory effect of humanized anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv-As2O3-stealth nanoparticles conjugate on growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo, which may be a potential agents with sensitivity and targeting ability for human hepatocellular cancer.@*METHODS@#Humanized anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv-As2O3-stealth nanoparticles conjugate was previously constructed using ribosome display technology and antibody conjugate technology. In this combined in vitro and in vivo study, the inhibitory effects of anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv-As2O3-stealth nanoparticles conjugate on tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis was observed with human liver carcinoma cell line Bel7402 and normal cell L02 by MTT assay, Tanswell assay, Hochest33258 staining, and DNA ladder analysis. The anticancer activity and distribution of anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv-As2O3-stealth nanoparticles was then verified in a mouse model of Bel7402 xenografts.@*RESULTS@#Anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv-As2O3-stealth nanoparticles significantly inhibited the proliferation of Bel7402 in the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay while had almost no effects on L02 cells. And the apoptosis inducing effects were proved by Hochest33258 staining and DNA ladder analysis. Transwell assay found that the drug also inhibited the metastasis ability of tumor cells. Furthermore, anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv-As2O3-stealth nanoparticles significantly delayed the growth of Bel7402 xenografts after administration (92.9%), followed by As2O3-stealth nanoparticles, anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv, and As2O3 (61.4%, 58.8%, 20.5%, P<0.05). The concentration of As2O3 in anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv-As2O3-stealth nanoparticles group was more selectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Anti-VEGFR-2 ScFv-As2O3-stealth nanoparticles is a potent and selective anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agent which could inhibit the growth of liver cancer as a targeting agent both in vitro and in vivo and also significantly inhibit angiogenesis.