Effects of WWOX gene transfection on cell growth of epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract

To study the effects of anti-oncogene WWOX on cell growth of epithelial ovarian cancer,in order to find a new approach of gene therapy for ovarian cancer. A eukaryotic expression vector containing WWOX was transfected into ovarian cancer cell line HO8910 in vitro (recombinant plasmid group), and positive cell clones were selected and amplified. Expression of WWOX protein was detected by western blot. Untransfected cell (blank contrast group) and transfected empty plasmid cell (empty plasmid group) were served as control groups. In vitro, the biology effect of WWOX on HO8910 cell was analyzed through the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium test, transwell chamber cell invasion assay in vitro, agarose clony-formation and flow cytometry. In vivo, the cell of transfection was transplanted intraperitoneally in to BALB/c nude mice. The survival time and growth ability of nude mice were observed. (1) Recombinant plasmid group cell could steadily express WWOX protein, while in empty plasmid group and blank control group the expression of WWOX protein were not detected. (2) The growth rate of recombinant plasmid group cell was inhibited. (3) The agarose clony-formation rate of recombinant plasmid group (19.8%) was significantly lower than that of the empty plasmid group (54.5%) and blank control group (56.0%, P < 0.05). (4) Flow cytometry showed that (72.08 +/- 0. 39)% of cells was arrested at G0/G1 stage in recombinant plasmid group, while in empty plasmid group and blank control group G0/G1 stage cells were at (41.02 +/- 1.08)% and (39.31 +/- 0.67)% (P < 0.05). (5) In vitro invasion assay showed that invasion cell number in recombinant plasmid group (89.7 +/- 3.1) was not significantly different from that of empty plasmid group (91.2 +/- 1.3) and blank control group (91.4 +/- 1.3, P > 0.05). (6) In vivo test in nude mice showed that WWOX gene could inhibit tumor growth of the HO8910 cells. Tumor suppressor gene WWOX could interfere with the cell cycles of ovarian cancer cell and inhibit cell proliferation. As a new valuable tool, it promises to have application in the gene therapy of ovarian cancer.