OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of siRNAs targeting CD97 immune epitopes on proliferation, infiltration, apoptosis and cell cycle of breast cancer cells.

METHODSsiRNA sequences targeting CD97and CD97immune epitopes were designed according to Gene Bank NM_001025160.2 with smart siCatchsiRNA design software. CD97siRNAs were transfected into MDA-MB231 cells in which CD97 was highly expressed. Highest sensitive CD97and CD97siRNA were screened by Western blotting. Inverted microscope was used to observe the growth of CD97siRNAs-transfected MDA-MB231 cells; the proliferation activity of MDA-MB231 cells was detected by MTT method; the wound healing assay and Transwell migration test were performed to examine the migration and infiltration ability of CD97and CD97siRNA-transfected MDA-MB231 cells; the effects of CD97siRNA and CD97siRNA on cell apoptosis and cell cycle of MDA-MB231 cells were detected by TUNEL and flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe growth and proliferation activity of CD97siRNAs-transfected MDA-MB231 cells were significantly lower than those in the control groups, and such differences were more significant in CD97siRNA-transfected group (all<0.05); scratch test showed that the wound healing rate was lower in CD97siRNAs-transfected groups, especially in CD97siRNA-transfected group (all<0.05); Transwell migration showed that the number of MDA-MB231 cells crossing through chambers were less in CD97siRNAs-transfected groups, especially in CD97siRNA-transfected group (all<0.05); no significant difference in cell apoptosis was observed between CD97siRNAs-transfected groups and control groups; cell cycle detection showed that CD97siRNAs-transfected groups had less cells in G/Gphase and more cells in S phase compared with the control groups, and such effect on cell cycle was more marked in CD97siRNA-transfected group (all<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCD97 plays an important role in the cell growth, proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells, and compared with CD97, CD97may have more effective inhibitory effects on cellular malignant behaviors.