[Expression deficiency of JWA enhanced DNA damage and delayed DNA repair in HeLa cells induced by benzo (a) pyrene exposure].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of JWA gene in benzo (a) pyrene [B (a) P] induced DNA damage and repair effects in HeLa cells.

METHODS

The antisense JWA express vector (pEGFP-C1-asJWA) was constructed and stably transfected into HeLa cells. JWA deficient HeLa cells (asJWA-HeLa) was then screened and established. The general characteristics of asJWA-HeLa cells were investigated. DNA damage and repair cell culture model was conducted by treating the cells with 50 micromol/L B (a) P plus S9 for 3 hours and then the cells were maintained further 0, 1, 3, and 24 hours for DNA repairing. The damaged DNA was detected by single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay).

RESULTS

JWA deficient HeLa cells (with a 31% of JWA protein expression as compared with the control) were obtained successfully. Compared with the empty vector transfected cells (C1-HeLa) and the untransfected HeLa cells, asJWA-HeLa cells were more sensitive to B (a) P exposure and with a delayed DNA repair process.

CONCLUSION

The JWA determined might function as a potential effective environmental responsive gene and actively participate the process of B (a) P exposure associated with intracellular signal pathways of DNA damage and repair.