Aim: To study the role of Twist gene in gastric cancer by gene silencing, including the potential of induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and proliferation inhibition in human malignant gastric SGC7901 cells.
Methods: The expression level of Twist in gastric cancer samples was measured by immunohistochemistry. The effects of Twist gene silencing were detected at both mRNA and protein levels by RT-PCR and Western blot. We also evaluated the cell proliferation and apoptosis by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. We determined the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-9 with a caspase activity assay kit. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion ability was evaluated by wound scratch assay and Boyden chamber assay.
Results: Twist protein was highly expressed in gastric cancer samples. Twist gene silencing significantly induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, proliferation inhibition, and reduced the ability of migration and invasion in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells. Meanwhile, both caspase-3 and caspase-9 were activated.
Conclusion: The Twist gene could serve as a potential molecular target for gene therapy of gastric cancer with targeted small interfering RNA.
Keywords: Apoptosis; Invasion; SGC7901; Twist; siRNA.