At present,
survivin is one of the most
cancer-specific
proteins that has been identified. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of novel
survivin small interfering RNA (
siRNA) nanoliposomes targeting
survivin in human
hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC-97H cells and xenograft mouse models.
Survivin-targeted
siRNA nanoliposomes were prepared and transfected into MHCC-97H cells and MHCC-97H-bearing nude mice.
Survivin expression was analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Cell viability was analyzed using an MTT assay and apoptosis was evaluated using Hoechst and
Annexin V-
fluorescein isothiocyanate/
propidium iodide staining.
Tumor growth in MHCC-97H-bearing mice was monitored following treatment and
tumor samples were obtained for
survivin expression analysis using RT-qPCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry staining.
Survivin expression levels were significantly downregulated by nanoliposome-mediated
survivin siRNA delivery and this was associated with a significant inhibition of cell growth and an increase in the apoptosis of MHCC-97H cells. Downregulation of
survivin expression using
survivin siRNA nanoliposomes inhibited
tumor growth in the MHCC-97H xenograft models without significant treatment-associated toxicity. Therefore, a cationic nanoliposome-based
survivin siRNA delivery system was constructed and demonstrated to be efficient for
survivin siRNA delivery in in vitro and in vivo studies. These results demonstrate that
survivin downregulation was able to significantly attenuate cell proliferation and induce the apoptosis of MHCC-97H cells, as well as inhibit
tumor cell growth in MHCC-97H xenograft models, indicating that
survivin suppression using
siRNA may contribute to the inhibition of
tumor development by suppressing cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis.