RESUMO
Objective To explore whether Forkhead O transcription factor-3a (FoxO3a) activity affects the capability of sphere-formation of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell line.Methods Sphere-forming cells (SFCs) were obtained and amplified through suspended culture with conditioned medium of the stem cells in SKOV3 cell line.After SKOV3 cells were transfected with FoxO3a specific siRNA,the protein expressions of FoxO3a and Bmi1 and the ratio of sphere-formation were compared with Western blot and sphere-forming assay,respectively.Results Compared to parental cells,SFCs from SKOV3 cell line had higher ratio of sphere-formation and over-expressed Bmi1 and pFoxO3a.Transfection of FoxO3a specific siRNA down-regulated the protein expression of FoxO3a and upregulated expression of Bmi1 in SKOV3 cells,and enhanced the capability of sphere-formation.Conclusions Silence of FoxO3a leads to enhanced capability of sphere-formation in SKOV3 cell line.