Knockdown of CUG-binding protein 1 induces apoptosis of human laryngeal cancer cells.

To investigate the role of CUG-binding protein 1 (CUGBP1) in human laryngeal cancer, we employed lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to knockdown CUGBP1 expression in Hep-2 cells. Depletion of CUGBP1 remarkably inhibited the proliferation of Hep-2 cells. CUGBP1 knockdown induced cell cycle arrest in S phase, especially in the sub-G1 phase, representing apoptotic cells. Knockdown of CUGBP1 in Hep-2 cells markedly increased the expression of LIP and cleavage of PARP, which could contribute to apoptosis. Thus CUGBP1 has a critical role in modulating cell growth and apoptosis, and serves as a potential therapeutic target in laryngeal cancer.