Down-regulation of anti-apoptotic genes in tumor cell lines is facilitated by suppression of OCT4B1.

PURPOSE

The OCT4B1 as a variant of OCT4 is expressed in both cancer cells and tissues. The anti-apoptotic property of this variant aid cancer cells to escape from apoptosis. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effects of OCT4B1 suppression on regulation of 25 genes involved in anti-apoptotic pathway in tumor cell lines.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

AGS (gastric adenocarcinoma), 5637 (bladder tumor) and U-87MG (brain tumor) cells were transfected with specific OCT4B1 siRNA and a scramble siRNA by siRNA silencing gene technology, using Lipofectamine 2000 commercial kit. The real-time PCR technique was employed to examine and calculate fold changes of evaluated genes using the 2 formula.

RESULTS

Present results demonstrated that 22 (88%) of interested genes were similarly down-regulated in all three examined cell lines. Our results also indicated that three genes (CASP2, IGF1R,TNF) were up-regulated. The CFLAR gene was down-regulated in AGS, while it was inversely up-regulated in 5637 and U87MG cells.

CONCLUSIONS

It may possibly be concluded that suppression of OCT4B1 can lead to apoptosis in tumor cell lines and this is at least facilitated via down-regulation of examined anti-apoptotic genes. Accordingly, suppression of OCT4B1 may probably be considered as useful tool in cancer therapy and research.