ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the inhibitory effect of survivin antisense oligodeoxynuleotides (ASODN) mediated by polyethylenimine (PEI) on hepatocelluar carcinoma SMMC-7721 cell proliferation and its effect on chemosensitivity to 5-FU in tumor-bearing mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The inhibitory effect of PEI-ASODN on SMMC-7721 cell proliferation was assayed by WST-8 test, Trypan blue exclusion test, and cell clone formation assay. In mouse models of transplanted H22 cell hepatocarcinoma and ascites tumor, the effect of 5-FU combined with PEI-ASODN on the weight and volume of the subcutaneous tumors was examined. The tumor inhibition rate in the tumor-bearing mice was calculated and the average survival time recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SMMC-7721 cells incubated with different concentrations of PEI-ASODN for 48 h showed significantly reduced cell proliferation in comparison with the control cells, while PEI or ASODN alone produced no such inhibitory effect. Incubation of SMMC-7721 cells with 0.75 micromol/L PEI-ASODN for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h resulted in significantly suppressed cell proliferation, and a 7-day incubation of the cells with PEI-ASODN at different concentrations (0.25-0.75 micromol/L) significantly inhibited the cell clone formation. In the tumor-bearing mice, the tumor weight and volume were obviously reduced with a tumor inhibition rate of 56.91% and volume inhibition rate of 57.83%, significantly different from those in saline-treated mice (P<0.01). In the mice bearing ascites tumor, the average survival time was 22.0 days in saline group and 42.7 days in 5-FU+PEI-ASODN treatment group, showing a a life-prolonging rate of 94.09% in the latter group. A synergetic effect was noted between 5-FU and PEI-ASODN.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PEI-ASODN complex can significantly inhibit the proliferation of hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells and enhance 5-FU chemosensitivity of the tumor cells in vitro and transplanted H22 tumors in mice.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Mice , Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic , Pharmacology , Therapeutic Uses , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Metabolism , Pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Drug Synergism , Fluorouracil , Pharmacology , Therapeutic Uses , Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins , Genetics , Pharmacology , Therapeutic Uses , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental , Drug Therapy , Pathology , Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense , Pharmacology , Therapeutic Uses , Repressor Proteins , Genetics , Pharmacology , Therapeutic UsesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the inhibitory effect of survivin antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASODN) mediated by polyethylenimine(PEI) on the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells, and assess its detect on the chemosensitivity of the cells to 5-FU.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The inhibitory effect of PEI-ASODN on SMMC-7721 cell proliferation was assessed using WST-8 test, trypan blue staining, and cell clone formation test. In mice bearing transplanted hepatocarcinoma and ascites tumor derived from H22 cells, 5-FU combined with PEI-ASODN was administered, and the weight and volume of the subcutaneous tumors were measured to calculate the tumor inhibition rate, and the average survival time of the mice was calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Incubation of the cells with different concentrations of PEI-ASODN for 48 h significantly inhibited the cell proliferation as compared with the control group, but PEI or ASODN alone produced no significant inhibitory effects. At 24, 48, 72, 96 h of incubation of the SMMC-7721 cells with 0.75 micromol/L PEI-ASODN, the cell proliferation was suppressed significantly, and incubation with PEI-ASODN at 0.25-0.75 micromol/L for 7 days resulted in significantly inhibited cell clone formation. No significant inhibition was detected in ASODN and PEI group. The tumor weight and volume were reduced in all the treated groups. The tumor inhibition rate was 56.91% and volume inhibition rate was 57.83% in 5-FU+PEI-ASODN group, significantly different from those in the normal saline group (P<0.01). In mice bearing ascites tumor, the average survival time was 22.0 days in saline group, and 42.7 days 5-FU+PEI-ASODN group. The life-prolongation rate of 5-FU+PEI-ASODN was 94.09% when compared with the survival time in saline group. A cooperative effect was detected between 5-FU and PEI-ASODN.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PEI-ASODN complex can significantly inhibit the proliferation of hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells and enhance the chemosensitivity of the tumor cells to 5-FU.</p>