[ Effect of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Repression on the Increasing Cell Viability and Alterations of Cell Cycle in Gastric Cancer Cell Line]

ABSTRACT

Background: Telomerase is a ribonucleoproteins enzyme responsible for the maintenance of telomere length. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase [hTERT] is a major component of the catalytic subunit of telomerase enzymes and is expressed in cells that have telomerase activity but is not expressed in normal somatic cells. Based on the specific expression of hTERT in most cancer cells, it can be considered as a factor in the distinction between cancer cells and normal cells. It seems that inhibiting the expression of hTERT has been presented as a therapeutic approach in inhibiting the activity of telomerase. One of the special tools for inhibiting genes is the use of small interfering RNA [siRNAs]. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hTERT gene on the cell viability and cell cycle in gastric cancer cells.