Effect of inhibition of the adrenomedullin gene on the growth and chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer cells.

Adrenomedullin (AM), a potent vasodilator peptide, is present in various types of tumors. Here, we constructed short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in order to target the AM gene in vitro using RNA interference (RNAi) technology. HO8910 ovarian cancer cells were transfected, and the effects of AM on proliferation and chemosensitivity of the cells were examined. RT-PCR, real-time PCR and western blot analysis were performed to detect the AM gene and protein expression. The MTT assay was used to observe the effect of AM on proliferation and chemosensitivity of the cells. Also, the protein levels of bcl-2 and the extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) were evaluated by western blot analysis. We found that silencing of the AM gene inhibited the proliferation and increased the chemosensitivity of HO8910 cells, reduced the expression of AM mRNA and protein as well as downregulated bcl-2 and p-ERK expression. We, therefore, conclude that silencing of the AM gene in HO8910 ovarian cancer cells inhibited the proliferation and increased the chemosensitivity of the cells through downregulation of ERK and bcl-2 expression. Thus, anti-AM treatment together with suppression of ERK and bcl-2 expression provides a novel research approach for ovarian cancer.