Effect of antisense locked nucleic acid blocking translation initiation region of c-myc exon 2 on apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIM: To observe the effect of antisense locked nucleic acid (anti-LNA) blocking the translation initiation region of c-myc exon 2 on the viability and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.METHODS: The anti-LNA that was complementary to the translation initiation region of c-myc exon 2 was designed, synthesized, and introduced into the HepG2 cells by cationic liposome-mediated transfection. The mRNA and protein levels of c-Myc in the cells were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. The change of cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the toxicity of anti-LNA to the cells was detected by MTT assay.RESULTS: Five days after transfection, the mRNA level of c-Myc in anti-LNA group was 0.335±0.016, and the protein level was 0.448±0.037, significantly lower than those in control group (both P<0.05). The ratio of apoptotic cells in anti-LNA group was 32%±6%, which was higher than that in control group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Antisense locked nucleic acid targeting at the translation initiation region of c-myc exon 2 shows strong inhibitory effects on the apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.