[Construction of antisense human tankyrase-1 RNA retroviral vector and its inhibition on tongue cancer cells].

Objective: To investigate the inhibition of telomerase activity and cellular proliferation in tongue cancer TCCA-8113 cell lines by antisense human tankyrase-1 RNA treatment, and explore the possibility of the tankyrase-1 as a target of gene therapy for tongue cancer.

Methods: The replication deficient retrovirus expressing tankyrase-1 antisense RNA was constructed to infect the TCCA-8113 cells. Tankyrase-1 expression was examined by RT-PCR. Telomerase activity was assayed by telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP). Cell proliferation was investigated by cellular growth curve. Cellular apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry method and invert microscope.

Results: Tankyrase-1 expression and telomerase activity of tongue cancer TCCA-8113 cells were significantly inhibited. There was G(1)-S phase arrest when TCCA-8113 cells were treated with antisense tankyrase-1 transduction. Cellular proliferation was arrested, and cellular apoptosis occurred after antisense tankyrase transduction.

Conclusions: The transduction of antisense tankyrase-1 by retroviral vector can significantly inhibit the tankyrase-1 expression and telomerase activity of tongue cancer TCCA-8113 cell lines, and arrest the cellular proliferation and promote cellular apoptosis. The tankyrase may be a potential target of gene therapy for tongue cancer.