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Effects of insulin‐like growth factors‐IR and ‐IIR antisense gene transfection on the biological behaviors of SMMC‐7721 human hepatoma cells
Author(s) -
YANG JIANMIN,
CHEN WENSHENG,
LIU ZHIPENG,
LUO YUANHUI,
LIU WEIWEN
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1746.2003.02961.x
Subject(s) - transfection , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cell culture , genetic enhancement , gene , cancer research , biochemistry , genetics
Background and Aims: Insulin‐like growth factors (IGFs) are closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma growth. The study aim was to investigate the effects of IGF‐IR and IGF‐IIR antisense gene transfection on the biological behaviors of SMMC‐7721 human hepatoma cells. Methods: 7721‐IGF‐IR‐AS cells (human hepatoma SMMC‐7721 cells transfected with IGF‐IR antisense gene in our previous study) were transfected with a plasmid vector expressing IGF‐IIR cDNA in the antisense orientation by DOTAP liposome.7721‐IGF‐R‐AS cells were obtained by selection with G418 and hygromycin. Morphological changes of the cells were observed with optic and electron microscopes. In vitro growth of the 7721‐IGF‐R‐AS cells was observed with a soft agar test, MTT test and with naked mice inoculation test in vivo . Results: The following changes were found in the SMMC‐7721 cells after being transfected with the IGF‐IR and IGF‐IIR antisense genes: (i) the degree of malignancy of the tumor cells as revealed by cell morphology was ameliorated; (ii) the growth capability of the tumor cells in soft agar and their tumorigenicity in naked mice were significantly depressed. However, in the control groups, the SMMC‐7721 cells transfected both with IGF‐IR and IGF‐IIR sense cDNA and SMMC‐7721 cells transfected without any external genes, had no such changes. However, the cell growth curves had no significant differences among these three groups. Conclusion: IGF‐IR and IGF‐IIR antisense genes could significantly restrain the malignant behavior of human hepatoma cells and might be useful in investigating a potential route for hepatocellular carcinoma gene therapy.