[Exogenous mIkappaBalpha gene inhibits the growth of HepG2 heptocellular carcinoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of mIkappaBalpha, the inhibitor of NFkappaB, in HepG2 heptocellular carcinoma cells and the inhibitory effect of mIkappaBalpha on HepG2 cell growth.

METHODS: The adenovirus containing mIkappaBalpha or the packaging vector were harvested from 293 packaging cells to infect HepG2 cells, in which the expression of green fluorescence protein (GFP) and mIkappaBalpha protein were detected. The plating efficiency and colony-forming ability in soft agar were evaluated, cell growth curve was generated and the tumor growth observed in nude mice.

RESULTS: HepG2 cells infected by the packaged adenovirus (HepG2/Adv cells) had positive GFP expression, and those infected by the adenovirus containing mIkappaBalpha (HepG2/Ad-mIkappaBalpha cells) showed mIkappaBalpha protein expression, as demonstrated by Western blot analysis. HepG2/Adv cells exhibited markedly lowered colony-forming ability as compared with that of the HepG2/Adv and HepG2 cells, and the latter two cells, but not the former cells, could survive in soft agar and form colonies in the shape of mulberries. Cell growth curve showed that the Hep G2/Ad-mIkappaBalpha cells had also significantly reduced growth rate, but their saturation density in culture was comparable with the other two cells. Four weeks after inoculation in nude mice, HepG2/Ad-mIkappaBalpha and HepG2/Adv cells showed no significant difference in tumorigenicity (80% vs 100%, respectively), but the tumor volume generated by the former cells was significantly smaller (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: mIkappaBalpha gene can inhibit the growth of HepG2 heptocellular carcinoma cells.