OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of shRNA targeting mPGES-1 on tumorigenicity of human acute leukemia K562 cells in nude mice in vivo and its mechanisms.

METHODSFor experiment 3 groups including KD group(expression of mPGES-1 in K562 cells was down-regulated by shRNA), CON (cells without any treatment) and NC group (cells treated with nonspecific-sequence shRNA) were set-up. Western blot was used to test the expression of β-catenin and cyclinD1 in cells. Then the cells of 3 groups were implanted into BALB/c nude mice subcutaneously to establish murine xenograft model. The growth state of the mice and the size of the xenograft tumor were recorded. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of xenograft tumor. Expressions of β-catenin and cyclinD1 in xenograft tumor were detected by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSIn vitro the expression of β-catenin and cyclinD1 in KD group were lower than the CON group and NC group (P<0.05). In vivo the tumor volume and weight of KD group were significant smaller than the other two groups (P<0.01). HE staining showed that tissues in the KD group were relatively looser in arrangement with smaller cell nucleus and less cytoplasm. The expression of β-catenin and cyclinD1 in the KD group were remarkable weak as compared with that in CON group and NC group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDown-regulating the expression of mPGES-1 by shRNA may significantly inhibit the tumorigenicity of K562 cells in nude mice in vivo and its mechanism may be related with the inhibition of expression of β-catenin and cyclinD1.