ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct a RNA interference lentiviral vector for human glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2) gene and observe the effect of GPX2 knockdown on cell apoptosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The sequence of the small interfering RNA (siRNA) for GPX2 interference was inserted into the pSicoR vector. HepG2 cells were infected by the packaged si-GPX2 lentivirus and the expression of GPX2 in the infected cells was detected by both RT-PCR and Western blotting. Changes of cell apoptosis following the infection were analyzed by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lentiviral particles pSicoR-GPX2 were successfully packaged. The expression of GPX2 in the infected cells was obviously down-regulated at both RNA and protein levels. GPX2 knockdown caused increased apoptosis rate, increased Bax expression and lowered Bcl-2 expression in HepG2 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We have successfully constructed the lentiviral vector for RNA interference of human GPX2 gene.</p>