Silencing of Nucleostemin by siRNA Induces Apoptosis inMCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 Cell Lines

One of the most important modulators involved in controlling apoptosis induction andviability of cancerous cells is nucleostemin (ns). some studies revealed that ns is also needed tomaintain the proliferation of embryonic neural stem cells and early embryogenesis. this study wasdesigned to better elucidate the association between ns depletion status and apoptosis inductionof both mcf-7 and mda-mb-468 cell lines. we examined the effects of ns-targeting sirnason the expression of ns in mcf-7 and mda-mb-468 human breast cancer cell lines by the realtimepolymerase chain reaction method. in addition, we investigated the correlation betweenknockdown of ns and viability rates and apoptosis induction in mcf-7 and mda-mb-468 celllines using the mtt assay and annexin v/pi staining, respectively. the ns-targeting sirnasinhibited the viability of the cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner and induced apoptosisafter 48 h in the cells. thus, consistent with previous articles, this protein can be one of theregulators related to the inhibition of apoptosis and the increased viability of tumor-initiatingcells in human breast cancer cell lines as well as other cancers.