INHIBITION OF CELL PROLIFERATION AND GLUCOSE UPTAKE IN HUMAN LARYNGEAL CARCINOMA CELLS BY ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AGAINST GLUCOSE TRANSPORTER-1

Background. Malignant cells show increased glucose uptake in vitro and in vivo, which is thought to be mediated by glucose transporters. In this study, we investigated the effect of plasmid-derived antisense RNA against the Glut-I gene on proliferation and glucose uptake in laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells. Methods. The expression plasmids pcDNA3.1(+)-Glut-1 and pcDNA3. 1(+)-anti Glut-1 were constructed. The MTT method was used to assess cell growth inhibition. The expression of Glut-1 mRNA and protein was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Results. After transfection, Glut-1 AS clearly inhibited glucose uptake and cell growth in Hep-2 cells, and we observed a decrease in the expression of Glut-1 mRNA and protein in Hep-2 cells. Conclusions. Glut-1 AS decreases glucose uptake and inhibits the proliferation of Hep-2 cells. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 31: 1624-1633, 2009