Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2013; 19(46): 8764-8769
Published online Dec 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i46.8764
Silencing Bmi-1 enhances the senescence and decreases the metastasis of human gastric cancer cells
Feng-Lan Gao, Wei-Shan Li, Chun-Ling Liu, Guo-Qiang Zhao
Feng-Lan Gao, Wei-Shan Li, Chun-Ling Liu, Pathological Examination and Research Center, Luohe Medical College, Luohe 462002, Henan Province, China
Feng-Lan Gao, Guo-Qiang Zhao, Basic Medical Science Institute, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: Gao FL and Zhao GQ designed the research; Li WH and Liu CL performed this work; Li WS analyzed the data and wrote the paper.
Supported by The Provincial Nature Science Foundation of Henan Education Department, No. 2009C310007, to Gao FL
Correspondence to: Feng-Lan Gao, Professor, Pathological Examination and Research Center, Luohe Medical College, College Road, Huiyuan District, Luohe 462002, Henan Province, China. lmcgfl@163.com
Telephone: +86-395-2964847 Fax: +86-395-2964847
Received: June 28, 2013
Revised: September 11, 2013
Accepted: September 29, 2013
Published online: December 14, 2013
Processing time: 172 Days and 11.6 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the impact of Bmi-1 on cell senescence and metastasis of human gastric cancer cell line BGC823.

METHODS: Two pairs of complementary small hairpin RNA (shRNA) oligonucleotides targeting the Bmi-1 gene were designed, synthesized, annealed and cloned into the pRNAT-U6.2 vector. After DNA sequencing to verify the correct insertion of the shRNA sequences, the recombinant plasmids were transfected into BGC823 cells. The expression of Bmi-1 mRNA and protein was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. The effects of Bmi-1 knockdown on cell senescence and metastasis were determined by the β-Gal activity assay and Boyden chamber assay, respectively.

RESULTS: The double-stranded oligonucleotide fragments of Bmi-1 short interfering RNA (siRNA) cloned into pRNAT-U6.2 vector conformed to the inserted sequence. RT-PCR and Western blotting indicated that the expression levels of Bmi-1 gene mRNA and protein were markedly decreased in transfected BGC823 cells with pRNAT-U6.2-si1104 and pRNAT-U6.2-si1356, especially in transfected BGC823 cells with pRNAT-U6.2-si1104, compared with two control groups (empty vector and blank group). In particular, Bmi-1 protein expression was almost completely abolished in cells transfected with the recombinant vector harboring shRNA targeting the sequence GGAGGAGGTGAATGATAAA (nt1104-1122). Compared with untransfected cells and cells transfected with the empty vector, the mean percentage of senescent cells increased and the number of cells passing through the Matrigel decreased in cells transfected with the recombinant vectors.

CONCLUSION: Silencing Bmi-1 by RNA interference can increase the senescent cell rate and effectively reduce the metastasis of gastric cancer cells.

Keywords: Bmi-1; Gastric cancer; Senescence; Metastasis

Core tip: The overexpression of Bmi-1 contributes to the development of cancers. This study aimed at to evaluate the impact of Bmi-1 on the senescence and metastasis of human gastric cancer. The results demonstrated that inhibition of Bmi-1 gene expression can enhance the senescence of human gastric cancer cells and inhibit the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. This research has provided an indication that Bmi-1 inhibitors might be developed as new agents for gastric cancer.