Tahereh Kalantari - Division of Medical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Bahram Mohseni-Aghdam - Division of Medical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Fatemeh Nasri - Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technologym Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Gholamhossein Tamaddon - Division of Medical Biotechnology, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mohsen Kalantari - Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Background: A high number of human breast cancers overexpress the murine double minute (MDM۲) gene which blocks the p۵۳ protein which plays an important role in arresting the cell growth. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of siRNA specific MDM۲ in knocking down MDM۲ and its subsequent effects on p۵۳ to exert antiproliferative effects on Michigan Cancer Foundation-۷ (MCF-۷) breast cancer cells.Method: In this in vitro study, we used the specific siRNA of the MDM۲ gene to knock down the expression of the MDM۲ protein in the MCF-۷ cell line. The expression of MDM۲, BCL۲-associated X (BAX), BH۳ interacting-domain death agonist (BID), and B cell lymphoma ۲ (BCL۲) genes was evaluated using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The apoptosis level was also assessed using the flow cytometry technique by the Annexin V test.Results: The results showed that the entry of MDM۲ siRNA into MCF-۷ cells significantly reduced the mRNA expression of MDM۲ gene (P-value < ۰.۰۵). Besides, the expression of the antiapoptotic gene of BCL۲ significantly decreased (P-value < ۰.۰۵) in transfected MCF-۷ cells, while that of BAX and BID genes increased (P-value < ۰.۰۵).Conclusion: Based on the results, MDM۲ inhibition is conducive to prevent cancer metastasis by the induction of cancer cell apoptosis. Moreover, it can be considered in cancer therapy along with chemotherapy.

Transfected MCF-۷ cells, Breast neoplasms, Bcl-۲-Associated X Protein, BH۳ interacting domain, Bcl-۲, p۵۳