Influence of alpha-fetoprotein on the expression of drug-resistance gene MDR1 and chemotherapeutic sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the influence of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on the expression of drug-resistance gene MDR1 and chemotherapeutic sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.Methods A HCC cell line SMMC-7721/AFP, which was stably transfected with AFP gene, was established.mRNA and protein expressions of AFP and MDR1 were detected by real-time PCR and Western Blot,respectively.The sensitivity of SMMC-7721/AFP and SMMC-7721/EGFP cells with or without MDR1 silencing by siRNA to doxorubicin was tested by MTT assay.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of MDR1 genes-coded protein Pgp in 60 cases of HCC tissues, and the relationship between Pgp expression and serum AFP levels was analyzed.Results AFP mRNA and protein could be detected in SMMC-7721/AFP cells, but not in control cells, indicating that the AFP stably transfected cell line was successfully established.MDR1 mRNA and protein levels were higher in SMMC-7721/AFP cells than those in SMMC-7721/EGFP cells.MDR1 mRNA level in SMMC-7721/AFP cells was (52.7 ± 1.5) times as high as that in SMMC-7721/EGFP cells (P ＜ 0.05).The resistance to doxorubicin was increased by (12.8 ± 1.1) times after AFP transfection (P ＜ 0.05).The chemosensitivity to doxorubicin was increased after the expression of MDR1 was knocked down by siRNA.The expression of Pgp in HCC tissues was positively correlated with the serum AFP levels.Conclusion AFP could induce drug-resistance to doxorubicin in HCC cells by increasing the expression of MDR1.