CEA and AFP expression in human hepatoma cells transfected with antisense IGF-I gene.

AIM:To determine whether antisense insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) gene can modulate CEA and AFP expression in human hepatoma cells (HepG2).
METHODS: Transfection of HepG2 cells was accomplished using Lipofectin reagent. Northern blot analysis confirmed the antisense IGF-I RNA of the transfected cells. CEA and AFP levels were measured using radioimmunoassay.
RESULTS: Human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2) were transfected with antisense IGF-I gene. Northern blot analysis confirmed that antisense IGF-I RNA was expressed in the transfected cells. The effect of antisense IGF-I gene on CEA and AFP expression was demonstrated by the fact that the CEA and AFP levels in the supernatant of transfected cell culture were significantly lower as compared with the parent cells, (CEA 7.0&mgr;g/L plus minus 0.76&mgr;g/L and 3.29&mgr;g/L plus minus 1.80&mgr;g/L (P < 0.05) and AFP 53.63&mgr;g/L plus minus 6.02&mgr;g/L and 9.0&mgr;g/L plus minus 5.26&mgr;g/L (P<0.01), respectively).
CONCLUSION: The malignant potentiality of the transfected cells was partially suppressed.Antisense IGF-I gene can modulate the expression of CEA and AFP in human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2)