Effect of interleukin-18 gene modified human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on proliferation of breast cancer cell

Abstract

To establish human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) strain transfected with interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene and examine its effects on the proliferation of breast cancer cell (MCF-7). HUMSCs were isolated and cultured. And the lentivirus-IL-18 vector containing human IL-18 gene was constructed and transfected into HUMSCs. The expressions of IL-18 gene mRNA and protein were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. After co-culturing for 1, 3, 5 days, Transwell and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were performed on MCF-7 to plot the cell growth curve. IL-18-HUMSCs could stably express of IL-18 gene and inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The IL-18 mRNA relative expression amounts were 1.40 ± 0.21 for experimental group (IL-18-HUMSCs), 0.59 ± 0.09 for negative control group (NV-HUMSCs) and 0.71 ± 0.05 for blank control group (HUMSCs). As compared with control group, the difference was statistically significant (F = 31.81, P = 0.001). The relative expressions of IL-18 protein were 1.54 ± 0.27 for experimental group (IL-18-HUMSCs), 0.57 ± 0.04 for negative control group (NV-HUMSCs) and 0.59 ± 0.23 for blank control group (HUMSCs). As compared with control group, the difference was statistically significant (F = 22.32, P = 0.002). After co-culturing for 5 days, the cellular proliferation was significantly inhibited. IL-18 gene has been successfully transfected into HUMSCs and has a stable expression. And IL-18-HUMSCs can effectively inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro.