Survivin specific siRNA associated with paclitaxel synergistically inhibits glioma U-87MG cells proliferation and related mechanism

In order to explore the effect of paclitaxel (PTX) combined with Survivin siRNA on proliferation and apoptosis in U-87MG cells in vitro, the U-87MG cells were transfected with Survivin siRNA and treated with PTX at the same time. The cell morphological changes were determined by methylene blue solution. Survivin, cyclin D1, c-Myc and CDK4 expression in U-87MG cells was analyzed by RT-PCR and western blot at 48 h after treatment. The cell proliferation and apoptosis in U-87MG cells were determined by MTT, flow cytometry assay. The results showed that Survivin was highly expressed in U-87MG cells, whereas Survivin expression was reduced in pSilenceTMneo3.1 - H1-siRNA - Survivin transfected and PTX treated U-87MG cells separately. But the inhibiting effect is not so obvious, in order to improve the treatment effect, PTX and survivin siRNA were used to treat U-87MG cells at the same time. The results demonstrated that Survivin siRNA combined with PTX significantly increased the sensitivity of U-87MG cells of PTX and elevated apoptotic cell rate, thus decreased, CDK4, cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression levels in U-87MG cells through RT-PCR and western blot assays. In short, this study demonstrated that Survivin siRNA combined PTX effectively suppressed growth and induced apoptosis in U-87MG cells in vitro, it is an vital approach to treat glioma.