Objective: To study the inhibitory effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on c-myc expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2.
Methods: Expression vector of c-myc gene-targeting small interference RNA (siRNA) was constructed (psilencer-c-myc) and transfected into HepG2 cells by lipofectamine, and the unloaded vector was used as control (mock). The expression of c-myc mRNA and protein was identified by quantitive PCR and Western blot. Apoptosis of the transfected cells was examined by flow cytometry and immunofluorescent microscopy.
Results: After HepG2 cells were transfected with psilencer-c-myc, the expression of c-myc mRNA and protein was suppressed with an inhibition rate of 67% compared with the mock-transfected cells. Apoptosis was identified in the transfected HepG2 cells.
Conclusion: The expression of c-myc at transcriptional and translational levels in HepG2 cells transfected with siRNA is markedly inhibited, which may be associated with the induction of apoptosis.