ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to assess visfatin expression and its effect on human telomerase gene expression in AGS gastric cancer cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, human gastric cancer (AGS) cell line was established as an in vitro model. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR) and enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay was performed to show that visfatin expression in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein level respectively. After stimulating with increasing concentrations of visfatin for times of 24 h and 48 h, cell proliferation was assessed by 2,3-Bis-(2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide (XTT) assay. In order to investigate telomerase gene expression affected by visfatin in AGS cell line, total RNA was extracted and complementary deoxyribonucleic acid was synthesized buy using commercially available kits. Expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA was carried out by real‑time RT‑PCR. RESULTS: After visfatin treatment gastric cell line proliferation was enhanced and was increased the expression of hTERT. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained data showed that visfatin induces endogenously gastric cancer cell proliferation and increases telomerase (hTERT) gene expression, as a cancer gene. Based on this study, it is suggested that expression of this adipocytokine protein in real samples could be biomarker for gastric cancer.