SUMO-1 Gene Silencing Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis of Human Gastric Cancer SGC-7901 Cells.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that blocking small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) conjugation by silencing SUMO gene remarkably decreased tumor growth in vivo. However, few studies have examined the relationship between SUMO gene silencing and gastric cancer (GC). The study aims to explore the effects of SUMO-1 gene silencing on GC cell proliferation and apoptosis.

METHODS: GC cells were cultured and divided into 5 groups: the blank group (without any transfection or treatment), the empty vector group (transfected with empty vector), the shRNA-SUMO-1-1 group (transfected with shRNA-SUMO-1-1 plasmid), the shRNA-SUMO-1-2 group (transfected with shRNA-SUMO-1-2 plasmid), and the shRNA-SUMO-1-3 group (transfected with shRNA-SUMO-1-3 plasmid). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to examine cell proliferation. Annexin V/PI staining combined with flow cytometry were used to detect cell apoptosis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were employed to measure the mRNA and protein expressions of SUMO-1, P53, Bcl-2 and c-myc, respectively.

RESULTS: SUMO-1 mRNA and protein expressions were decreased after transfecting with shRNA-SUMO-1. Compared with the blank group, the shRNA-SUMO-1-1 group presented a remarkable decreased proliferation of SGC-7901 cells. Significant increase in cell apoptosis rate was observed. Bcl-2, c-myc and P53 expressions were declined after transfecting with shRNA-SUMO plasmid.

CONCLUSION: Our study provided evidence that SUMO-1 gene silencing could decrease proliferation and promote apoptosis in GC cells.