Inhibitory effect of a liposome-mediated antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on telomerase activity in a human gastric cancer cell line

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) on the telomerase activity of the human gastric cancer cell line FGC85. METHODS: FGC85 cells were treated in vitro with ASODN complementary to the template region of the RNA component of human telomerase. A cationic liposomal transfection reagent was used as a delivery vector. Telomerase activity was detected by using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol/polymerase chain reaction/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TRAP-PCR-ELISA) method. RESULTS: The telomerase activity of FGC85 cells was suppressed significantly by the liposome/ASODN treatment and the effect was related to the con-centration of liposome/ASODN and treatment time. CONCLUSIONS: Specific ASODN have an inhibitory effect on telomerase activity in human gastric cancer cell line FGC85. Specific ASODN could be used in research into gene therapy for cancer treatments and the exploration of carcinogenesis.