Inhibition of proliferation of human lens epithelial cell line HLE-B3 by adenovirus-mediated transfer of antisense c-myc gene

Abstract

To investigate the effects of adenovirus-mediated transfer of antisense c-myc gene on proliferation and survival of human lens epithelial cell. Immortalized human lens epithelial cell line (HLE-B3) was infected by replication-deficient adenovirus of antisense c-myc gene (Ad-AS-myc). The expression of c-myc mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. Cell proliferation was analyzed by cell growth curve and MTT colorimetric assay, cell death and cell cycle of HLE-B3 were examined by flow cytometry. More than 80% of HLE-B3 cells were infected successfully after 48 hours incubation with Ad-AS-myc adenovirus. The expression of c-myc mRNA and protein was decreased. Ad-AS-myc suppressed the growth rate, enhanced the cell death (18.33% after 48 hours and 26.93% after 96 hours transduction). The proportions of G1 phase cells were increased to (60.50 +/- 7.59)% after 48 hours and (81.90 +/- 8.60)% after 96 hours transduction, while the proportions of S phase cells were decreased to (28.40 +/- 3.38)% after 48 hours and (16.75 +/- 8.97)% after 96 hours infection. Adenovirus-mediated antisense c-myc may inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of HLE-B3.