Objective: To study the effect of the small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated LKB1 gene silencing on the biological behavior of lung carcinoma cells.
Methods: RNA interference technique was used to silence LKB1 gene in lung carcinoma cells, and the expression of LKB1 protein were subsequently detected by Western blotting. The cell proliferation was then assessed by observing the growth curve and clone formation of the cells, and cell cycle and apoptosis were assayed by flow cytometry.
Results: LKB1 siRNA resulted in remarkable suppression of LKB1 expression in the lung carcinoma cells. LKB1 gene silencing resulted in accelerated cell proliferation, but cell apoptosis underwent no significant changes.
Conclusion: Down-regulation of LKB1 gene expression can stimulate malignant biological behavior of lung carcinoma cells.