Human hepatoma cell telomerase activity inhibition and cell cycle modulation by its RNA component antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides

AIM: To investigate the effects of human telomerase RNA component antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides on telomerase activity of human hepatoma cells a nd their effects on cell cycle distribution. METHODS: Modified telomeric re peat amplification protocol was used to detect telomerase activity. Cell cy cle was analyzed by flow cytometer. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detect ed in all of four human hepatoma cell lines but absent in normal liver cell s. Antisense oligomers to human telomerase RNA component (hTR) inhibited te lomerase activity of BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells markedly in vitro. After in vitro treatment with antisense oligomers for 96 h, cell cycle of BEL-74 04 human hepatoma cells was mainly arrested at G(2)/M phase. CONCLUSION: An ti- sense oligomers to hTR inhibited telomerase activity of BEL-7404 human hepatoma cells in vitro and resulted in cell cycle arrest at G(2)/M phase.