Optimized effect of connexin 43 gene silencing on the proliferation of fetal liver stem cells

Zhang Zeng-guang; Qin Ming-fang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2015.14.001

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Fetal liver stem cel s have the potential to differentiate into hepatocytes and bile duct cel s, and participate in the repair and reconstruction of the liver, which is an important source of hepatocytes. But there are a little amount of fetal liver stem cel s in human body, and how to obtain a certain number of high-purity fetal liver stem cel s is currently a hot research. OBJECTIVE:To construct a siRNA carrier that can effectively inhibit the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in rat fetal liver stem cel s, and to investigate the effect of Cx43 inhibition on the proliferation and cel cycle of fetal liver stem cel s cultured in vitro. METHODS:Fetal liver stem cel s were cultured by the suspension culture in vitro, siRNA sequences targeting Cx43 (Cx43-siRNA) and negative control sequence (NC-siRNA) were designed and synthesized. Then, rat fetal liver stem cel s were transferred electrophoretical y and divided into three groups:blank group, NC-siRNA group, Cx43-siRNA group. Real-time PCR and western blot were used to assess the knockdown efficiency. Cel ular proliferation was determined by cel growth curve and cel counting kit-8 assay. The cel cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After transfection, the Cx43 gene and protein expression levels were declined dramatical y in the Cx43-siRNA, NC-siRNA and blank groups, and the cel s grew faster. The number of cel s at G0/G1 phase decrease, but the number of cel s in S phase increased. There were significant differences between the groups (P<0.05). Electrophoretic transfer of Cx43-siRNA can promote the proliferation of cultured fetal liver stem cel s and optimize the cel culture.