Figure 7

ALK gene-silencing and growth inhibition of ALCL cells by functional RNA nanocomplexes. A, Cultured Karpas 299 cells were treated with the nanocomplex containing both ALK siRNA and CD30 aptamer for 4 days. Cellular proteins were then separated by electrophoresis and ALK fusion proteins (NPM-ALK) were detected by immunoblotting. Cellular β-actin protein expression was also measured as an internal control for gene expression. B, Cellular ALK fusion protein expression in the same set of treated Karpas 299 cells was also simultaneously detected by immunocytochemical staining. C, To study the corresponding effects on cellular proliferation and viability when the ALK gene was silenced, Karpas 299 and control Jurkat cells were treated with the nanocomplexes containing ALK siRNA or irrelevant control siRNA, or were not treated. The number of viable cells was counted under each treatment condition on days 2 and 4 post-treatment. D, To assess apoptosis, Karpas 299 cells were treated as described above for 2 days and then stained with FITC-conjugated Annexin V. The number of apoptotic cells (%) was measured by flow cytometry. ** P < 0.05.