Objective: To explore the expression and the role of PTX1 located at the amplified 12p12-p11 region in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
Methods: Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR were applied to detect the expression level of PTX1 in 36 NPC and 8 chronic nasopharyngitis (NP) biopsies. RNAi vector targeting PTX1 was constructed and transfected into NPC cell line 6-10B. The RNAi effect was determined by detecting the expression level of PTX1 in transfected 6-10B cell line. Finally, the cell biological characteristics were compared between transfected 6-10B and parental 6-10B by analyzing the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis status using flow cytometry.
Results: RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR revealed that PTX1 gene was over-expressed in NPC tissues (P<0.05). PTX1 expression was suppressed in NPC cell line 6-10B by approximately 65% by RNAi, confirmed by RT-PCR. The depletion of PTX1 could effectively block the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of NPC cells.
Conclusion: Blocking the expression of PTX1 on mRNA level changed the characterization of NPC cell line 6-10B by RNAi, suggesting that PTX1 identified in the amplified 12p12-p11 region may be involved in the genesis and development of NPC via promoting the cell proliferation and inhibiting the cell apoptosis.