ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting C-erbb-2 oncogene on the radiosensitivity of C-erbb-2-overexpressing lung adenocarcinoma cell line.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four pairs of siRNA targeting the coding sequence of C-erbb-2 mRNA were synthesized and their interference effects were evaluated using quantitative real-time fluorescence PCR. The siRNA with the best interference effects was transfected into Calu-3 cells, which were then exposed to 2 or 5 Gy irradiation, with the cells with transfection or irradiation alone as the control groups. The cell apoptosis after the treatment was detected using annexin V-FITC Kit.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The apoptosis rate of the Calu cells was 7.767-/+0.551 in the blank group, 14.400-/+1.114 in the interference group, 11.867-/+0.737 in 2 Gy irradition group, 23.000-/+1.664 in 2 Gy irradiation + interference group, 16.100-/+0.624 in 5 Gy irradiation group, and 27.900-/+1.709 in 5 Gy irradiation+interference group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The siRNA targeting C-erbb-2 gene can enhance the radiosensitivity of Calu-3 cells to gamma-ray and increase their apoptosis rate following gamma-ray exposure in vitro.</p>