[Effect of HIF-1alpha on the proliferation and apoptosis of uterine cervix cancer SiHa cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of HIF-1alpha on the proliferation and apoptosis of SiHa cells in hypoxia, as well as the role of HIF-1alpha in the development of uterine cervix cancer.

METHODS: The eukaryotic expression vector containing full length HIF-1alpha (pcDNA3. 1-full length HIF-1alpha) was transfected into SiHa cell, the mock plasmid (pcDNA3. 1) was also transfected into SiHa cell as the negative control. The expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF were detected by Western Blotting and immunocytochemistry. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT colorimetric assay after the treatment of varied concentration of CoCl2, and cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL.

RESULTS: The level of HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression in the cells transfected with full length HIF-1alpha was higher than that in the untransfected group and pcDNA3. 1 group (P < 0.05), the survival ability of the cells in HIF-1alpha group was also higher than that of other two groups no matter in anoxia or in hypoxia (P < 0.05), the ratio of apoptosis was less than untransfected group and pcDNA3. 1 group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: HIF-1alpha inhibited cell apoptosis in CoCl2 induced hypoxia and stimulated cell proliferation. These results suggest that HIF-1alpha may play an important role in the development of uterine cervix cancer.