Bcl-2 targeting siRNA expressed by a T7 vector system inhibits human tumor cell growth in vitro
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- Published online on: March 1, 2004 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.24.3.615
- Pages: 615-621
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Abstract
A T7 promoter driven siRNA expression vector system (Bcl-2/T7) that targets Bcl-2 mRNA in MCF-7 human cancer cells was designed in the present study. In the presence of prebound T7 RNA polymerase, successful expression of Bcl-2 siRNA as well as its function was demonstrated via cell proliferation assays, Bcl-2 Elisa, and TUNEL assay. MCF-7 breast cancer cells transfected with Bcl-2/T7 show decreased levels of Bcl-2 expression at the protein level as well as decreased cell proliferation. Also, the number of apoptotic cells was increased in cells expressing Bcl-2 siRNA. Previous studies have shown that Bcl-2 levels are increased in a large number of different types of cancer. Therefore, the ability of Bcl-2/T7 to produce functional Bcl-2 siRNA in breast cancer cells suggests a potential role for this delivery system in cancer gene therapy.