[The effect of short hairpin RNA on hTERT expression].

AIM: To study the effect of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on hTERT expression. METHODS: Oligonucleotides encoding shRNA against hTERT was cloned into a mammalian shRNA expression vector pUC18U6 to form pUC18U6ht which was transfected into HepG2 cells by using liposome. HepG2 cells transfected by pUC18U6 and pUC18U6GFPsir which expressed shRNA against green fluorescent protein were used as controls. hTERT mRNA in the transfected cells was quantified by using real-time fluorescent RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the short hairpin RNA against hTERT decreased the hTERT mRNA level by 49% (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: hTERT expression was reduced by the shRNA.