Targeting the Mutant Region in K-RAS by RNA Interference Controlling Cell Proliferation and Programmed Cell Death in Liver Cancer Cells.

Abstract

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a high-incidence and significant cause of cancer globally. HCC is the world's third most common death-related cancer and the sixth most common tumor. In HCC, various cellular signaling is activated to ensure malignancy transformation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The most efficient signaling pathway in cancer is mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which controls malignancy and regulates apoptosis. The mutant k-ras gene led to the activation of the RAS protein with GTPase activity, which stimulated hepatocellular proliferation and transformation. Here we aim to investigate the correlation between the knock-down of k-ras and HCC evaluation in-vitro. 
 Material and Methods We used the HepG2 cell line to investigate the direct connection between the k-ras expression profile and RAF/MEK pathway using a respective siRNA antagonist k-ras. 
 Results Interestingly, the siRNA antagonist k-ras altered cell morphology and a number of the living HepG2 cells. In addition, the transfection of HepG2 cells with the firstly designed siRNA successfully reduced the expression profile k-ras and the relative gene expression of Raf-1 and Mek1, the downstream targets of RAS signaling. Furthermore, interleukin 8 (IL-8) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were monitored in the fluids media at different time points following transfection. Both IL-6 and Il-8 production significantly increased in cells transfected with siRNA targeting k-ras. 
 Conclusion Our findings provide evidence for the influential role of the k-ras mutated gene in HCC development and suggest the possible regulation of this gene as a potential treatment for HCC.