Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) against nucleus accumbens-1（Nac1 or NAC-1）gene on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cell line HO8910. Methods: Three specific NAC-1 siRNAs and one negative siRNA were individually transfected into HO8910 cells for 48 h . The expression levels of NAC-1 mRNA and protein were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. The cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and plate clone formation assay. The distribution of cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry. Results: In comparison with the other two kinds of NAC-1 siRNAs, NAC-1-siRNA-1 was demonstrated to have the strongest silencing effect on NAC-1 gene expression in HO8910 cells at 48 h after transfection. The expression levels of NAC-1 mRNA and protein were reduced by 65% and 80%, respectively. The growth rate of HO8910 cells transfected with NAC-1-siRNA-1 was significantly decreased. Moreover, the cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase was observed when HO8910 cells were transfected with NAC-1-siRNA-1 for 48 h. Conclusion: Specific NAC-1 siRNA can effectively inhibit the expression of NAC-1 gene and significantly suppress cell proliferation of ovarian cancer HO8910 cells.

Key words: ovarian cancer, nucleus accumbens-1, small interfering RNA, Cell proliferation, Cell cycle