Inhibition of homo sapiens eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 2 expression induces apoptosis in pancreatic cell line and its possible mechanisms / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To elucidate whether down-regulation of homo sapiens eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 2 (EEF1A2) expression induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells and its possible mechanisms. Methods Two siRNAs targeting human EEF1A2 were synthesized and the siRNA/liposome complexes were transfected into the pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3. RTPCR and Western blot were used to analyze the change of EEF1A2 expression and the apoptosis rate of BxPC-3 cells was studied using Annexin-V/PI assay. To identify the mechanisms involved, the apoptosis associated proteins such as caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, PARP, cytochrome C and Bid were detected by Western blotting. Results Both EEF1A2-targeting siRNAs reduced the EEF1A2expression, and the No. 2 siRNA inhibited EEF1A2 expression to less than 25 % in mRNA and protein levels. Down-regulation of EEF1A2 expression in BxPC-3 cells enhanced cell apoptosis (15.28% ±3.65%) at a greater level than negative siRNA-expressing cells (10. 11% ± 3. 05%) or mock cells (9.41 % ±4.14 %). Furthermore, reduction of EEF1A2 activated the pro-caspase-8, pro-caspase-3,pro-caspase-9,PARP and Bid to their active forms, and increased the expression of cytochrome C.Conclusions These data suggest that EEF1A2 down-regulation could significantly induce apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3, which is likely mediated by the death receptor and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways.