BCSG1 siRNA delivered by lentiviral vector suppressed proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Gene Therapy

Background:

• Breast cancer-specific gene 1 (BCSG1), also known as γ-synuclein (SNCG), is overexpressed in invasive breast carcinomas.
• BCSG1 is notably absent in normal and benign breast tissues, suggesting its role in breast cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic potential of BCSG1 siRNA delivered by lentiviral vectors in breast cancer cells.
• To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which BCSG1 affects cancer cell behavior.

Main Methods:

• Construction and transfection of a BCSG1 RNAi lentiviral vector into MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
• Quantification of BCSG1 mRNA levels using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
• Assessment of cell proliferation (Cell Counting Kit-8), migration (Transwell assay), apoptosis (flow cytometry), and protein expression (Western blotting for AKT, ERK, p-AKT, p-ERK).

Main Results:

• BCSG1 siRNA significantly reduced BCSG1 mRNA levels in MDA-MB-231 cells.
• A notable decrease in cell migration and proliferation was observed, along with cell cycle arrest.
• Western blot analysis revealed significantly lower levels of phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) in BCSG1 siRNA-treated cells.

Conclusions:

• Lentiviral vector-mediated delivery of BCSG1 siRNA effectively suppresses BCSG1 expression in breast cancer cells.
• BCSG1 siRNA treatment inhibits cancer cell migration and proliferation.
• The observed effects are potentially mediated through the downregulation of p-AKT and p-ERK signaling pathways.