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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells From Human Prostate Cancer Samples
Published on: March 14, 2014
Down-regulation of Hsp27 radiosensitizes human prostate cancer cells
Shahram Teimourian1, Razieh Jalal, Mostafa Sohrabpour
1Laboratory of Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of Tehran, Iran.
Aim:
In this study, we examined whether human Hsp27 is involved in the radiation sensitization induced by gamma radiation in cultured human prostate cancer cells.
Methods:
We transfected DU145 cells with full length Hsp27 antisense cDNA to obtain viable cell lines which expressed reduced Hsp27. Selected individual clones were subjected to western blot analyses to confirm reduced expression of Hsp27.
Results:
Hsp27 belongs to a family of abundant and ubiquitous stress proteins, the small heat shock proteins. It has been shown that Hsp27 can inhibit apoptosis both in a caspase-dependent and independent manner. Colony assays showed that the cells engineered to express reduced Hsp27 levels had a significantly increased sensitivity to gamma radiation compared with control cells that were transfected with the vector alone. However, there was also a significant difference in viability of cells with reduced Hsp27 levels and control cells 72 h after gamma-irradiation.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest the possible application of antisense Hsp27 cDNA or other methods to reduce Hsp27 expression as a radiation sensitizer in radiation oncology.
Insights
Reducing heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) levels in prostate cancer cells significantly increased their sensitivity to gamma radiation. This suggests Hsp27 may be a target for enhancing radiation therapy effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) is a small heat shock protein known to inhibit apoptosis.
- Hsp27 plays a role in cellular stress responses and survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of human Hsp27 in gamma radiation-induced sensitization of human prostate cancer cells.
- To determine if reducing Hsp27 expression can enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy.
Main Methods:
- Human prostate cancer cells (DU145) were transfected with full-length Hsp27 antisense cDNA.
- Western blot analysis was used to confirm reduced Hsp27 expression in selected clones.
- Colony formation assays were performed to assess radiation sensitivity.
Main Results:
- Cells engineered to express reduced Hsp27 levels exhibited significantly increased sensitivity to gamma radiation compared to control cells.
- A significant difference in cell viability was observed between reduced Hsp27 and control groups 72 hours post-irradiation.
Conclusions:
- Reduced Hsp27 expression enhances prostate cancer cell sensitivity to gamma radiation.
- Antisense Hsp27 cDNA or similar strategies targeting Hsp27 could be valuable as radiosensitizers in radiation oncology.
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