SiRNA-mediated Silencing of the RPS19 Gene Induces Apoptosis andInhibits Cell Cycle Progression in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Javad Roodgar-Saffari,
Vajiheh Zarrinpour
Mohammad Mahdi Forghanifard
Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran.
10.22088/IJMCM.BUMS.13.4.436
Abstract
This research delves into the therapeutic implications of utilizing small interfering RNA
(siRNA) to target the ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19) gene in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
using the K562 cell line model. The primary objective was to investigate how gene silencing
affects apoptosis promotion and cell cycle arrest. The study employed bioinformatics tools and
databases to explore the interactions involving RPS19 and neighboring proteins. Subsequently,
siRNA-mediated gene silencing was utilized to suppress RPS19 expression in K-562 cells, with
assessments conducted on cell cycle progression and apoptosis through flow cytometry
analysis. Furthermore, real-time PCR was employed to evaluate the expression levels of
RPS19, along with the closely associated RPS16 and RPS18 genes. Silencing the RPS19 gene
in siRNA-transfected K-562 cells led to an increase in apoptotic cells by over 20%, with a
significant accumulation in the sub-G1 and G1 phases. Additionally, the knockdown of RPS19
resulted in a 75% decrease in RPS16 expression and a 50% decrease in RPS18 expression.
These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of targeting RPS19 in CML cells,
suggesting a promising approach for precise treatment strategies in leukemia and potentially
other types of cancer.
Keywords
RPS19
siRNA
chronic myeloid leukemia
gene silencing
cell cycle
apoptosis