Radiosensitivity of AsPC-1 cell to γ-rays enhanced by up-regulation of PUMA induced by targeted Slug gene

Objective: To explore the influence of PUMA on radiosensitivity of pancreatic cancer AsPC-1 cells after Slug gene inhibition by transfected short interferencing RNA (siRNA). Methods: The AsPC-1 cells were infected with MOI 10, 50, 100 for 72 h, respectively. The expression of Slug and PUMA was analyzed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry methods. The transfected and control cells were exposed to 4 Gy γ-rays. The cells inhibition rate was examined by MTT, Hoechst 33342 and IP double staining. DNA ladder and Giemsa staning was used to observe apoptosis. Results: The relative value of Slug expression was 0.831±0.14, 0.546±0.12 and 0.178±0.08 after AsPC-1 was infected with Slug-siRNA (MOI 10, 50, 100) for 72 h, significantly lower than that of control group (F=4.992, P<0.05). The relative value of PUMA was 0.325±0.07, 0.593±0.11 and 0.978±0.12, after AsPC-1 was infected with Slug-siRNA (MOI 10, 50, 100) for 72 h, significantly higher than that of control group (F=4.324, P<0.05). The cell proliferation rate was (78.76±9.36)% in transfection combined with radiosensitivity group, significantly higher than that of transfection group [(43.68±6.71)%] and radiosensitivity group alone [(19.25±3.72)%] (F=5.056, P<0.05). The apoptosis of transfection combined with radiosensitivity group was significantly higher than that of others. Conclusions: Slug gene targeting siRNA could inhibit the expression of Slug, and consequently increase the activation of PUMA expression, and so enhance the radiosensitivity to γ-rays. (authors)