Inhibition of growth and angiogenesis of U251 cell xenograft in vivo by short hairpin RNA targeting survivin gene

To observe the impact of specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting survivin gene on tumorigenesis and angiogenesis of human brain glioblastoma U251 cells in vivo of nude mice. U251 cells, U251-SR cells transfected stably with shRNA eukaryotic expression vector pWH1-SR targeting survivin gene, and U251-P cells transfected stably with blank pWH1 vector, were inoculated respectively into subcutaneous tissue in flank of 15 nude mice (each group 5 mice), and the tumor growth status was observed and measured. Protein expressions of survivin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and factor VIII related antigen (F VIII RAg) were investigated by immunohistochemistry SABC method, apoptotic cells were screened by TUNEL method, furthermore proliferative index (PI), apoptotic index (AI) and microvessel density (MVD) were measured respectively in each group of tumor specimens. Comparing with those in U251 and U251-P groups, in U251-SR group, the tumorigenesis time delayed, tumor grew slowly, both tumor volume and t