The effects of small interfering RNA–targeting tissue factor on an in vitro model of neovascularization

PURPOSE: Tissue factor (TF) plays an important role in neovascularization (NV). This study aimed to determine whether small interfering RNA–targeting TF (TF-siRNA) could knock down TF expression and inhibit cell proliferation, cell migration, and tube formation in an in vitro model of NV. METHODS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lines to express TF and mimic certain phenotypes of NV in vitro. HUVECs were transfected with TF-siRNAs and control siRNAs using Lipofectamine(TM) 2000. The inhibitory effect of the siRNAs on the expression of TF mRNA and protein was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot analysis. The effects on the cell viability, migration, and tube formation of siRNA-treated cells were examined by MTT assay, wound-healing assay, and Matrigel-induced capillary tube formation. RESULTS: Lipopolysaccharide treatment increased the expression of TF. TF-siRNAs effectively knocked down TF expression, with the most efficient TF-siRNA reducing 78.9% of TF expression. TF protein was also notably curtailed by TF-siRNA. The MTT and wound-healing assays showed that the TF-siRNA substantially inhibited the proliferation and migration of HUVECs. Tube formation was decreased by 47.4% and 59.4% in cells treated with the TF-siRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor–siRNA, respectively, compared with the blank control. CONCLUSIONS: TF-siRNA can knockdown TF expression and inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation in vitro. TF-siRNA may provide a novel therapeutic candidate for NV-related diseases.