We next performed real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis PS-341 price to assess the mRNA and selleck products protein levels of cell cycle-related molecules. After 72 hrs of transduction, RNAi-mediated STIM1 silencing induced upregulation of p21waf1/cip1 and downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4 simultaneously in U251 cells (Figure 4A and 4B). The results demonstrated that STIM1 may be involved in regulating the expression of cyclins-cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs)-CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) in U251 cells. Figure 4 mRNA and protein levels of cell cycle-related molecules. (A) Total RNA was extracted
at 72 hrs after transduction and mRNA expression of p21Waf1/Cip1 , cyclin D1 and CDK4 was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. GAPDH was used as an internal control. (B) Total cellular protein were extracted LY2874455 in vitro at 72 hrs after transduction and determined by Western blot analysis using antibodies against p21Waf1/Cip1 , cyclin D1 and CDK4, and GAPDH as a loading control. Data represent the mean ± S.D. of three independent experiments. *P <0.05, **P < 0.01 compared with the si-CTRL group. si-CTRL: cells infected with control-siRNA-expressing lentivirus; si-STIM1: cells
infected with si-STIM1. Lentivirus-mediated si-STIM1 inhibited tumor growth in vivo To determine whether STIM1 silencing could inhibit tumor development in vivo, lentivirus transduced U251 cells were subcutaneously injected into the right dorsal flank of the nude mice and tumor growth was evaluated. As shown in Figure 5A, the average growth rate of the ten si-STIM1 xenografts was reduced by 41.9% ± 5.7% (**P < 0.001, day 30) compare with control tumors (si-CTRL) as assessed by serial microcaliper measurements. si-STIM1 tumors that were resected on day 30 post-inoculation weighed 50% less than si-CTRL tumors (*P < 0.05) (Figure 5B). Representative photographs to of mice in two groups (si-STIM1 and si-CTRL) and their transplanted tumors were shown in Figure 5C.
Western blot analysis verified that STIM1 levels remained downregulation in the si-STIM1 transduced U251 xenografts in comparison to the control (Figure 5D). Thus, these results indicated that lentivirus-mediated gene silencing of STIM1 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for human glioblastoma. Figure 5 Effect of STIM1 knockdown on tumorigenicity in nude mice. U251 cells transduction with si-STIM1 or siCTRL were subcutaneously injected into the right dorsal flank of the nude mice as described in Materials and methods. Tumor volume was determined on Day 10, 20 and 30. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and tumors were excised for weight measurement and Western blot analysis. (A) Growth curve of tumor xenografts was assessed by serial microcaliper measurements. (B) Weight of tumor xenografts 30 days after inoculation. (C) Representative photographs of mice and tumors for each treatment.