Background:Galectin-3 is a member of the galectin family that participates in a variety of physiological and pathological events including cell growth and apoptosis,cell adhesion,angiogenesis,as well as tumor invasion and metastasis,and has been reported to be overexpressed in many human cancers.Aims:To investigate the effect of galactin-3 targeted RNA interference on proliferation,apoptosis and chemosensitivity of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. Methods:Galectin-3 targeted siRNA was constructed and transfected into SGC-7901 cells.Efficacy of RNA interference was evaluated by real time PCR and Western blotting,while cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay and cell apoptosis by flow cytometry.Results:The transfection efficiency at 24 hours after transfection was 83.8%;expression of galectin-3 in SGC-7901 cells was significantly inhibited at mRNA and protein levels with a decreasing of 87.8% and 90.4%,respectively (P <0.01).Proliferation inhibition rates of SGC-7901 cells in galectin-3 siRNA group at 24,48 and 72 hours after transfection were 15.57% ±1.45%,32.90% ±0.76% and 57.35% ±1.05%,respectively,and the apoptosis rate at 72 hours after transfection was 46.17% ±2.39%;all were significantly higher than those in blank control,liposome control and negative siRNA control groups at the same time points (P <0.01).Proliferation inhibition of SGC-7901 cells induced by oxaliplatin,a chemotherapeutic agent,was also markedly increased in galectin-3 siRNA group (P <0.01).Conclusions:Expression of galectin-3 in SGC-7901 cells can be inhibited successfully by RNA interference;cell proliferation is decreased,cell apoptosis is increased and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agent is augmented,which indicates that galectin-3 is a promising target for gastric cancer gene therapy.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Humans ; Thrombocytopenia