Expression of the radio-inducible TK suicide gene controlled by Egr-1 promoter in pancreatic cancer cells: an in vitro experiment

Abstract

To investigate the expression of radio-inducible herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) suicide gene controlled by early growth response-1 (Egr-1) promoter in pancreatic cancer cells. Adenoviral vector pAdEgr-1-TK containing green fluorescent protein (GFP) was constructed. Human pancreatic cancer cells of the line PC-3 were cultured, transfected with pAdEgr-1-TK, and then exposed to 60Co source gamma-radiation at the doses of 0, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, and 20 Gy respectively for 24 hours. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the TK mRNA and protein expression in the PC3 cells. The TK mRNA expression levels of the PC3 cells exposed to y-radiation at the doses of 0, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, and 20 Gy respectively were (67.3 +/- 2.1)%, (89.3 +/- 1.0)%, (114.7 +/- 5.7)%, (140.5 +/- 3.1)%, (134.5 +/- 4.0)%, and (117.4 +/- 3.4)% respectively. The TK mRNA expression level was markedly increased after exposure to gamma-radiation, especially that t the dose of 10 Gy (all P < 0.01). The TK protein expression levels of the PC3 cells exposed to y-radiation at the doses of 0, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, and 20 Gy were (5.4 +/- 0.7)%, (7.6 +/- 0.9)%, (21.5 +/- 1.5)%, (35.7 +/- l1.4)%, (32.1 +/- 1.2)%, and (28.8 +/- 1.5)% respectively. The Egr-1 promoter causes high expression of TK suicide gene in cancer cells after exposure to 60Co-gamma-radiation. These data provide an experimental basis for gene therapy.