The aim of this study was to investigate the knockdown efficiency of 2'-O-methylated (2'-OMe)-modified small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) on human rhinovirus 1B (HRV1B) replication and the interferon response. Thus, 24 2'-OMe-modified siRNAs were designed to target HRV1B. The RNA levels of HRV1B, Toll-like receptor 3, melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, retinoic acid inducible gene-I, and interferons were determined in HRV1B-infected HeLa and BEAS-2B epithelial cells transfected with 2'-OMe-modified siRNAs. The results revealed that all 2'-OMe-modified siRNAs interfered with the replication of HRV1B in a cell-specific and transfection efficiency-dependent manner. Viral activation of Toll-like receptor 3, melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, retinoic acid inducible gene-I, and the interferon response was detected. In conclusion, the 2'-OMe-modified siRNAs used in this study could interfere with HRV1B replication, possibly leading to the reactivation of the interferon response.
Gene Knockdown Techniques ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Interferons ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rhinovirus ; Virus Replication

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) system is a hotspot of gene editing and gene expression research, in which CRISPR/Cas13 system provides a new direction for RNA interference and editing. In this study, we designed and synthesized the corresponding gRNAs of CRISPR/Cas13a and CRISPR/Cas13b systems in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway, such as Ku70 and Lig4, and then detected the expression of ku70 and lig4 in HEK293T cells. The CRISPR/Cas13a system could efficiently knockdown the mRNA expression of ku70 and lig4 more than 50%, and CRISPR/Cas13b system also suppressed ku70 and lig4 about 92% and 76%, respectively. Also, CRISPR/Cas13a, b systems could down-regulate Ku70 and Lig4 proteins level to 68% and 53%, respectively. The study demonstrates that the CRISPR/Cas13 system could effectively knockdown the expression of RNA and protein in HEK293T cells, providing a new strategy for gene function and regulation research.
CRISPR-Cas Systems ; DNA Ligase ATP ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; genetics ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Ku Autoantigen ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of targeted Sox4 gene-knock-down on the growth of xenografts of Xuanwei female lung cancer cell line XWLC-05 cells in nude mice.

METHODSRecombinant plasmid pGFP-V-RS-Sox4 shRNA was constructed and transfected into XWLC-05 cells. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were applied to confirm the effect of Sox4 gene-knock-down. XWLC-05 cells stably transfected with the plasmids were inoculated into nude mice to establish the xenograft model. The nude mouse status, tumor formation and tumor growth were observed, and the tumor inhibition rate was calculated. CT scan was performed to assess the metastasis of xenografts. Immunohistochemical staining was applied to detect Sox4 and ki-67 protein expression.

RESULTSRecombinant plasmid pGFP-V-RS-A-Sox4 shRNA which can effectively knocking-down Sox4 gene was successfully constructed and the stable transfected cells were selected by puromycin-screening. The success rate of tumor cell inoculation was 100% in the mice of all groups except those inoculated with saline. The body weight of all mice inoculated with parental XWLC-05 cells (blank control), pGFP-V-RS-scram shRNA trsfected XWLC-05 cells (negative control), and pGFP-V-RS-Sox4 shRNA transfected XWLC-05 cells was increased to a varying degree, but there was no significant difference among the groups (P > 0.05 ). The growth of xenografts was significantly inhibited after silencing the Sox4 gene expression when compared with that of the blank and negative controls (P < 0.05) . The volume of removed tumors of the Sox4 gene-inhibited mice was (2.30 ± 0.34) cm(3) , significantly smaller than that of the negative control (3.99 ± 0.45) cm(3) and the blank control (4.03 ± 0.42) cm(3) (P < 0.05) . The weight of removed tumors of Sox4 gene-inhibited mice was (0.86 ± 0.14) g, significantly lower than that of the negative control (1.84 ± 0.27) g and blank control (1.86 ± 0.22) g, (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that Sox4 and ki-67 proteins mainly expressed in cell nuclei. The staining was significantly decreased in xenografts of Sox4-inhibited mice when compared with the negative and blank controls (P < 0.05). No distant metastasis was found in any mouse by CT imaging and pathological examination during the observation period.

CONCLUSIONSThe xenograft model of Xuanwei female lung cancer cell line XWLC-05 cells in nude mice is successfully established. Knocking-down of Sox4 gene can suppress the xenograft tumor growth.

Animals ; Female ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; SOXC Transcription Factors ; metabolism

The aim of this study is to determine the regulatory mechanism of PTEN-induced putative kinase protein 1 short isoform (PINK1S) in cytoplasm. By co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay, we identified that PINK1S interacted with the beta regulatory subunit of Casein Kinase 2 (CK2β), but not with the catalytic subunits CK2α1 and CK2α2. Furthermore, cells were transfected with PINK1S and CK2β, and then PINK1S was purified by immunoprecipitation. After detecting the phosphorylated proteins by Phos-tag Biotin, we found that CK2β overexpression increased auto-phosphorylation of PINK1S. Finally, we generated CK2β knockdown cell lines by RNA interference. Purified PINK1S from CK2β knockdown cells significantly reduced its auto-phosphorylation compared with control cells. These results suggested that CK2β functions as a regulatory subunit of PINK1S kinase complex promoted its activation by self-phosphorylation.
Biotin ; Casein Kinase II ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Pyridines ; RNA Interference ; Transfection

Adult-born neurons undergo a transient period of plasticity during their integration into the neural circuit. This transient plasticity may involve NMDA receptors containing NR2B, the major subunit expressed at early developmental stages. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of NR2B gene knockdown on the functional integration of the adult-born granule cells generated from the subgranule zone (SGZ) in the hippocampus. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down the NR2B gene in the adult-born hippocampal neurons. In the functional integration test, the mice were exposed to a novel environment (open field arena), and the expression of c-fos was immunohistochemically detected in the hippocampus. After exposure to the novel environment, siRNA-NR2B mice were significantly different from control mice in either the number of squares or the number of rears they crossed, showing decreased horizontal and vertical activity (P<0.05). Moreover, the c-fos expression was increased in both control and siRNA-NR2B mice after open field test. But, it was significantly lower in siRNA-NR2B neurons than in control neurons. It was concluded that the neural activity of newborn neurons is regulated by their own NR2B-containing NMDA glutamate receptors during a short, critical period after neuronal birth.
Animals ; Female ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Hippocampus ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Neurons ; physiology ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct a stable nm23-H1-knock-down cell model with K562 cell line and study its differentiation toward megakaryocyte.

METHODSEukaryotic expression vector pSilencer 4.1-CMV-sinm23 expressing siRNA targeting nm23-H1 was transfected into K562 cells with lipofectamine2000. Cells with stably nm23-H1 silence were screened out by G418. Real-time quantitative PCR, immunocytochemistry, western blot were used to confirm the nm23-H1-knock-down K562 model. Cell differentiation capacity was detected by NBT reduction assay. Surface antigen Gp IIb-IIIa (CD41) of knock-down cells treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the ERK1/2 signal pathway after the stimulation of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate.

RESULTSEndogenous nm23-H1 was silenced by pSilencer 4.1-CMV-sinm23 and the silence efficiency was up to 75% and 70% in mRNA and protein levels respectively compared with the mock cells. Under phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment, the knock-down cells displayed a significantly increased differentiation ability toward megakaryocyte compared with control. The NBT reduction values were (0.31 +/- 0.07) and (0.23 +/- 0.05) respectively. Further results revealed that nm23-H1 gene regulating the megakaryocytic differentiation was due in part to the increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONSA stable nm23-H1-knock-down K562 cell model is successfully constructed. nm23-H1 involves in regulating the megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cell line.

Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; genetics ; RNA Interference

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of nucleophosmin (NPM) in the proliferation of chronic myeloid leukemia cells (K562 cells) and its mechanism by RNAi technology. METHODS: shRNA was used to inhibit the expression of NPM. The expression of NPM gene was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The effect of inhibiting NPM gene on cell proliferation was detected by MTS assay. Change of cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the expression of cell cycle-related proteins. RESULTS: The shRNA lentiviral vector targeting at NPM gene was successfully constructed and used to transfect the K562 cells. The results showed that compared with the control groups, suppression of NPM gene expression in K562 cells could inhibit the cell proliferation and decrease the cell colony formation. Moreover, interference of NPM gene could prolong G/G phase and arrest cell cycle, which may be related to the down-regulation of NPM gene expression and activation of p21 protein expression, thereby inhibited the formation of CDK2/ Cyclin E complex. CONCLUSION Down-regulation of NPM gene expression in K562 cells can induce cell cycle arrest and inhibit cell proliferation.
Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Nuclear Proteins

The present study was to determine the effect of c-SRC on the viability of human cervical cancer HeLa cells and the expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3) of the cell. Post-transfection of c-SRC RNA interference vector, RT-PCR and Western blot were utilized to observe the contents of c-SRC mRNA and protein, respectively, in HeLa cells. The MTT was used to observe the viability of the cells. Cell cycle was observed by flow cytometry. The content of p-STAT3 in the cells was also investigated after knockdown of c-SRC. Knockdown of c-SRC significantly decreased the contents of c-SRC mRNA and protein in the cells. The viability of the cells decreased by 23.1%, 29.3%, 38.6% and 45.0% (all P < 0.05), respectively, after the cells were transfected with c-SRC RNA interference vector for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. The number of S-phase cells decreased by 5.6%, 10.0%, 15.2% and 19.9% (all P < 0.05), respectively, after transfection of c-SRC RNA interference vector for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. The content of p-STAT3 also decreased when c-SRC was knockdowned. Compared with the control group, after treatment of HeLa cells with STAT3 inhibitor Piceatannol for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, the cell viability decreased by 23.8%, 29.7%, 37.3% and 45.4% (all P < 0.05), respectively, while increase of c-SRC content could not reverse the inhibitory effect. These results suggest that the inhibited viability of HeLa cells caused by knockdown of c-SRC is associated with the decreased content of p-STAT3 protein.
Cell Survival ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genes, src ; genetics ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

The effect of BHC80 (a component of BRAF-HDAC complex) on development was not well studied, because BHC80 gene knock-out mice died in one day after birth. Interestingly, zebrafish embryos can live, even if their important organs like cardiac system has severe dysfunction, as 25%-40% O2 are supplied through their skin. Therefore, a model of BHC80 gene knock-down zebrafish embryos was established to explore the effect of BHC80 on the early embryonic development. BHC80-morpholino antisense oligonucleotides 2 (BHC80-MO2) was designed and injected into zebrafish embryos to interrupt the correct translation of BHC80 mRNA at one or two cells stage, which was proved by RT-PCR analysis. Two control groups, including non-injection group and control-MO (con-MO) injection group, and four different doses of BHC80-MO2 injection groups, including 4 ng, 6 ng, 8 ng and 10 ng per embryo were set up. The embryonic heart phenotype and cardiac function were monitored, analyzed and compared between con-MO and BHC80-MO2 groups by fluorescence microscope in vmhc:gfp transgenic zebrafish which express green fluorescent protein in ventricle. The results showed that BHC80-MO2 microinjection effectively knocked down the BHC80 gene expression, because the BHC80-MO2 group emerged a new 249 bp band which reduced 51 bp compared to 300 bp band of con-MO group in RT-PCR analysis, and the 51 bp was the extron 10. The abnormal embryo rate rose with the increase of BHC80-MO2 dosage. The proper BHC80-MO2 injection dosage was 8 ng per embryo, as minor embryos had abnormal phenotype in 4 ng and 6 ng per embryo groups and most embryos died in 10 ng per embryo group. BHC80-MO2 embryos exhibited abnormal cardiac phenotype, including imbalance of the proportion of heart ventricle to atrium, incomplete D-loop, even tubular heart, slow heart rates and cardiac dysfunction. The results from a model of BHC80 gene knock-down zebrafish embryos show that the abnormal cardiac phenotype and cardiac dysfunction of BHC80-MO2 embryos may be one of the probable reasons for the BHC80 gene knock-out mice death, which would provide a good research model to clarify the mechanism of cardiac development.
Animals ; Embryonic Development ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Heart ; embryology ; Histone Deacetylases ; genetics ; Mice, Knockout ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; RNA, Messenger ; Zebrafish ; embryology ; Zebrafish Proteins ; genetics

Entamoeba histolytica is an enteric tissue-invading protozoan parasite that can cause amebic colitis and liver abscess in humans. E. histolytica has the capability to kill colon epithelial cells in vitro; however, information regarding the role of calpain in colon cell death induced by ameba is limited. In this study, we investigated whether calpains are involved in the E. histolytica-induced cell death of HT-29 colonic epithelial cells. When HT-29 cells were co-incubated with E. histolytica, the propidium iodide stained dead cells markedly increased compared to that in HT-29 cells incubated with medium alone. This pro-death effect induced by ameba was effectively blocked by pretreatment of HT-29 cells with the calpain inhibitor, calpeptin. Moreover, knockdown of m- and micro-calpain by siRNA significantly reduced E. histolytica-induced HT-29 cell death. These results suggest that m- and micro-calpain may be involved in colon epithelial cell death induced by E. histolytica.
Calpain/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; *Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Dipeptides/metabolism ; Entamoeba histolytica/*pathogenicity ; Epithelial Cells/*parasitology ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans