Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1998. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 15, 1998; 4(1): 30-32
Published online Feb 15, 1998. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v4.i1.30
CEA and AFP expression in human hepatoma cells transfected with antisense IGF-I gene
Li Zhang, Shu-Nong Li, Xiao-Ning Wang
Li Zhang, Xiao-Ning Wang, Department of Immunology, The First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Shu-Nong Li, Department of Pathophysiology, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510089, Guangdong Province, China
Li Zhang, male, born on 1956-08-18, in Haikou, Hainan Province, graduated from Department of Pathophysiology, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, engaged in studies of tumor immunology, having 14 papers published.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Li Zhang, Department of Immunology, The First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Telephone: +86-20-87705370-48482 Fax: +86-20-87730321
Received: September 2, 1997
Revised: September 30, 1997
Accepted: October 20, 1997
Published online: February 15, 1998
Abstract

AIM: To determine whether antisense insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene can modulate CEA and AFP expression in human hepatoma cells (HepG2).

METHODS: Transfection of HepG2 cells was accomplished using Lipofectin reagent. Northern blot analysis confirmed the antisense IGF-I RNA of the transfected cells. CEA and AFP levels were measured using radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS: Human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2) were transfected with antisense IGF-I gene. Northern blot analysis confirmed that antisense IGF-I RNA was expressed in the transfected cells. The effect of antisense IGF-I gene on CEA and AFP expression was demonstrated by the fact that the CEA and AFP levels in the supernatant of transfected cell culture were significantly lower as compared with the parent cells, [CEA 7.0 μg/L ± 0.76 μg/L and 3.29 μg/L ± 1.80 μg/L (P < 0.05) and AFP 53.63 μg/L ± 6.02 μg/L and 9.0 μg/L ± 5.26 μg/L (P < 0.01), respectively].

CONCLUSION: The malignant potentiality of the transfected cells was partially suppressed.Antisense IGF-I gene can modulate the expression of CEA and AFP in human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2)

Keywords: insulin-like growth factor-I, carcinoembryonic antigen, α-fetoprotein, carcinoma, hepatocellular, tumor cells, cultured, radioimmunoassay