[Silencing nucleostemin expression reduces the proliferation of PC-3 cells].

Objective: To detect the expression of the nucleostemin (NS) gene in prostate cancer PC-3, LNCaP and DU145 cells, and to study the effect of the NS gene on the proliferation of PC-3 cells after its silencing.

Methods: The protein and mRNA expressions of NS in PC-3, LNCaP and DU145 cells were respectively detected by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR. An NS-specific short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression plasmid was used to transfect the PC-3 cells (NS-shRNA-PC-3), followed by observation of the changes of the NS gene and the proliferation and apoptosis of the cells.

Results: The NS gene was highly expressed in the three types of cells. After the transfection, the NS expression and the proliferation of the NS-siRNA-PC-3 cells were remarkably reduced, while the percentage of the GO/G1 cells and the early apoptosis of the PC-3 cells obviously increased. A marked decrease was observed in the neoplasm forming ability of the NS-siRNA-PC-3 cells in the nude mice.

Conclusion: NS is highly expressed in prostate cancer cells. The proliferation of PC-3 cells is remarkably reduced and the early apoptosis of PC-3 cells increased after silencing the NS gene by NS-specific shRNA.