Apoptosis induced by the transfection of wild-type p53 gene into DU145 cells through 20 kHz ultrasound combined with microbubbles and iiposome

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether the transfection of wild-type p53 gene into DU145 cells through 20 kHz ultrasound combined with microbubbles and liposome can induce cell apoptosis, and to explore the probable mechanism. Methods Ultrasound with a frequency of 20 kHz and power of 80 mW in continuous wave mode was used to transfect wild-type p53 gene into DU145 cells, and microbubble and liposome were added. DU145 cells were divided into four groups： control group（A）, ultrasound combined with microbubbles group（B）, liposome group（C）, and ultrasound combined with microbubbles and liposome group（D）. Twenty-four hours after treatment, the early apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and western blotting was used to evaluate the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins, p53 and MDM2, after treatment for thirty-six hours. Results The early apoptosis rate of group D was much higher than that of group A,B and C（ P ~ 0. 01 ）. Western blotting showed that the treatment of group D increase the expression of p53 protein and decreased the expression of MDM2 protein,which has a significance difference when compared with group A,B and C（ P d0. 01 ）. Conclusions The treatment of transfection wild-type p53 gene into DU145 cells through 20 kHz ultrasound combined with microbubbles and liposome induce cell apoptosis may through up-regulation of p53 and down-regulation MDM2. Key words: Sonication; Microbubbles; Liposomes; Apoptosis