[Inhibitory effect of MUC2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide with lipofectin on human gastric cancer cell proliferation]

Abstract

Background & objective: Our previous study showed that the expression of MUC2 protein was related with the biological behavior of gastric carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effect in vitro of mucin gene MUC2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) on its gene expression and cell proliferation on gastric cancer cells SGC7901.

Methods: Phosphorothioate MUC2 ASODN was synthesized and transfected to SGC7901 cells mediated by lipofectin. Its inhibitory effects on cell proliferation was determined by MTT method, light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemical method.

Results: The determination by MTT method demonstrated that MUC2 ASODN of varied concentration significantly inhibited the growth of SGC7901 cells while the control lipofectin and control N-ODN showed no such effect. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent and time-dependent. The inhibition peaked at 48th hour after transfection, and the inhibition rate reached 55% when the MUC2 ASODN concentration was 0.5 micromol/L. After transfecting with MUC2 ASODN, SGC7901 cells showed decrease in number, volume, and karyokinesis, and increase in necroses under light microscopy. Mitochondrion swelling, increased liposomes, myelin figures, chromatin margination were found under electron microscopy. And the test by immunohistochemical method indicated that transfected MUC2 ASODN downregulated the expression levels of MUC2 protein, but upregulated the expression levels of p16 protein.

Conclusion: MUC2 ASODN transfection could specifically inhibit SGC7901 cells proliferation.