Human papillomavirus 16 E6, E7 siRNAs inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of SiHa cervical cancer cells

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of HPV16 E6/E7 siRNAs on cervical cancer SiHa cells. The expressions of the E6, E7, p53 and Rb genes were assayed by RT-PCR and Western-bloting respectively. The proliferation and apoptosis of the cells were evaluated by MTT and flow cytometry. HPV 16 E6 and E7 oncogenes were selectivly downregulated by HPV 16 E6 and E7 siRNAs, which sustained at least 96 h by single dose siRNA. Furthermore, reduction of E6 and E7 oncogenes expression upregulated the expressions of P53 and RB protein and induced apoptosis in SiHa cells. Introduction of HPV16 E6/E7 siRNA might be a potentially potent and specific approach to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of SiHa cervical cancer cells.