Effect of PTEN gene overexpression on cell cycle and tumor invasion in a human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cell line

AIM:To investigate the role of phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosome(PTEN) gene in the cell cycle and invasion ability of human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cell line in vitro. METHODS:Human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cells were transfected with a eukaryotic expression plasmid vector containing PTEN gene in vitro,and then the positive cell clones were selected and amplified. MTT method was used to observe the inhibitory rate,flow cytometry was used to detect the cycle of transfected PTEN cells and apoptosis level. Western blotting analysis was used to determine PTEN gene expression. The invasiveness of transfected cells were measured quantitatively by Matrigel invasion assays (Transwell chamber). RESULTS:The expression of PTEN mRNA in SKOV3 cells increased after transfection with PTEN gene. Flow cytometry showed that the percentage of cells in S phase increased,but that in G₂/M phase decreased. Invasiveness of SKOV3 was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION:The transfection of PTEN gene into SKOV3 cells can inhibit human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cell proliferation,invasion and induce SKOV3 cell apoptosis.