| Abstract: | Objective To study the inhibitory effects of caspase-3 mRNA antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASODN) on expressions of caspase-3 and it's mRNA in γ-radiation induced apoptotic HL-60 cells, and screen the effective ASODN. Methods ASODN-1 and ASODN-2 targeting 5′-noncoding region and initial translation region of caspase-3 mRNA were respectively designed, synthesized and introduced into HL-60 cells by means of liposome-mediated transfection followed by 10Gy γ-radiation exposures. TUNEL assay was conducted to investigate the morphologic change and apoptotic percentage of HL-60 cells 18 h later. Immunocytochemical staining and one step RT-PCR were respectively performed to detect the expressions of caspase-3 and it's mRNA. Mismatched oligodeoxynucleotide (MODN) transfected and un-transfected HL-60 cells were taken as control. Results TUNEL assay found that the apoptotic percentages in ASODN-1 and ASODN-2 groups were significantly reduced compared with the control groups (P<0.01) when the final concentration of both ASODNs was ≥3μmol/L. Immunocytochemistry showed that caspase-3 positive cell percentages were reduced but the average gray values increased significantly compared with the control groups (P<0.01). RT-PCR showed expressions of caspase-3 mRNA was decreased after ASODN transfection. Furthermore, ASODN-1 proved more effective in inhibiting HL-60 cell apoptosis than ASODN-2 (P<0.01). Conclusion Caspase-3 mRNA ASODNs can prevent HL-60 cells from apoptosis induced by γ-radiation and reduce expression of caspase-3 and its mRNA. These effects are dose dependent in a certain range. |
