Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference targeting gene inhibits the growth of GT-38 cells and .

Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 () is associated with the pathogenesis of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC). However, the function of in the growth of EBVaGC cells remains unclear. In the present study, the effects of silencing , by RNA interference (RNAi), on the growth of EBVaGC cells were investigated and . A lentivirus-mediated RNAi targeting was transfected into the EBVaGC cell line GT-38. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot analysis, MTT, colony formation and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the biological behavior of GT-38 cells that were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) . The effects of silencing on tumor growth were assessed in a tumor xenograft model using BALB/c nude mice. The results demonstrated that the proliferative and clonogenic abilities of GT-38 cells were significantly downregulated in response to siRNA (P<0.01). Furthermore, siRNA induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and promoted apoptosis of GT-38 cells (P<0.01). The tumorigenicity of GT-38 cells was significantly inhibited in the siRNA group. The results revealed that lentivirus-mediated RNAi of inhibited the growth of the EBVaGC cell line GT-38 and . Therefore, may be a potential target for gene therapy in EBVaGC.