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Updated: Mar 12, 2026
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Published on: September 13, 2022
Targeting HMGA2 in Retinoblastoma Cells in vitro Using the Aptamer Strategy
Venkatesan Nalini1, Perinkulam Ravi Deepa2, Rajeswari Raguraman3
1Department of Larsen & Toubro Ocular Pathology, The Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology, Vision Research Foundation, Chennai, India; Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, India.
Abstract:
High-mobility group A2 (HMGA2) protein regulates retinoblastoma (RB) cancer cell proliferation. Here, a stable phosphorothioate-modified HMGA2 aptamer was used to block HMGA2 protein function in RB cells. HMGA2-aptamer internalisation in RB cells (Y79, Weri Rb1) and non-neoplastic human retinal cells (MIO-M1) were optimised. Aptamer induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity in RB cancer cells (0.25-1.5 µM). Increased expression of TGFβ, SMAD4, CDH1, BAX, CASP 3, PARP mRNA and decreased SNAI1, Bcl2 mRNA levels in aptamer-treated RB cells suggests the activation of TGFβ-SMAD4-mediated apoptotic pathway. Synergistic effect with etoposide was observed in aptamer treated RB cells (p value ≤0.05). No significant toxicity was observed in non-neoplastic retinal cells.
