The Change Of HSP27mRNA In HaCaT Malignant Transformation Cell Induced By Arsenic

BackgroundPrior work shows the human skin keratinocyte HaCaT cell line, when exposedchronically to a low level of inorganic arsenite results in cells of acquired malignantphenotype. This acquired malignant phenotype has been proved useful as a cell modelsystems for in depth study of epidermal carcinogenesis induced by arsenic in humans.HSP27has been shown to be related to the metastasis and tumorigenicity of sometumors. But still relatively little is known about the impact of HSP27in arsenic-inducedcarcinogenesis of skin.Objective To investigate the expression variation of HSP27mRNAduringarsenic-induced malignant transformation of HaCaT cells and to study the role ofHSP27in tumorgenesis of HaCaT cells induced by arsenic.Methods The HaCaT cells were induced by arsenic to form malignant transformationcell model in vitro．The expression level of HSP27mRNAwas assessed byRT-PCR．Results Morphological changes were observed in the HaCaT cells cultured witharsenic for20weeks. The arsenic–treated cells showed varied shapes withmultinucleated giant cells being seen frequently. The monoclonal formation rate in the20weeks arsenic-treated group (0.83‰) was significantly higher than that in thecontrol group (0.22‰) by soft agar colony formation assay（P﹤0.05）.Expression level of HSP27mRNAin the20weeks arsenic-treated group was significantly higher thanthat in the control group by RT-PCR.Conclusion Treatment of HaCaT cells with arsenic for20weeks can result inmorphological changes of the cells. The monoclonal formation rate increases.In theprocess of malignant transformation of HaCaT cells, HSP27mRNA increasesignificantly.HSP27is maybe play a role in the malignant transformation of HaCaTcells induced by arsenic.