Background: This study aimed to explore the effects of ras association domain family 1 A (RASSF1A) on proliferation and apoptosis of human cervical cancer cell line Hela cells.
Materials and methods: RASSF1A was cloned into the pcDNA3.1(+) vector to generate pcDNA3.1(+)-RASSF1A plasmid for transfection into Hela cells. Changes in the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured Hela cells were examined by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium chloride assay and flow cytometry. A protein array was used to analyze the expression of apoptotic factors.
Results: Plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)-RASSF1A was generated and transfected into Hela cells to stably express RASSF1A in Hela cells. RASSF1A transfection was effective in inhibiting the proliferation of Hela cells up to 52.4%, as compared to cells transfected with an empty plasmid. RASSF1A expression also successfully induced apoptosis in human cervical cells with an apoptosis rate of 20.5%. More importantly, protein array results showed that RASSF1 A transfection induced overexpression of p21 and caspase 8, while decreasing the expression of survivin in Hela cells.
Conclusions: RASSF1A expression was effective in suppressing the proliferation and increasing apoptosis of Hela cells, and may be a potential therapy for cervical cancer in clinic.