OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of RNA interference of IgG gene on the radiosensitivity of the human prostate cancer PC3 cell line.

METHODSPC3 cells were trasnfected via lipofectamine by the shRNA vector FCGR1AshRNA targeting the Fc segment of IgG, using NCshRNA as the negative control. Q-PCR and Western blotting were used to analyze the expression of IgG in the trasnfected cells. The cells were then exposed to ⁶⁰Co γ ray at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 Gy, and the cell proliferation was evaluated by MTS and the cells apoptosis estimated by flow cytometry at 12, 24 and 48 h.

RESULTSMTS assay showed that ⁶⁰Co γ ray significantly inhibited the proliferation of PC3 cells transfected with FCGR1AshRNA as compared with NCshRNA-transfected and blank control cells (P<0.05). Flow cytometry showed that the cell apoptosis rate was significantly higher in FCGR1AshRNA group than in NCshRNA and blank control groups at 48 h after γ ray exposure (P<0.05). At 12, 24 and 48 h after 6 Gy radiation, the cells in FCGR1AshRNA group showed a significantly lowered proliferation rate and an increased apoptosis rate (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe shRNA targeting IgG gene can significantly enhance the sensitivity of PC3 cells to radiation. The combination of RNA interference targeting IgG gene with radiotherapy may be more effective in the treatment of prostate cancer.