Effect of p21-targeted shRNA on curcumin-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma Huh7 cells

 In the present study, shRNA plasmid of pSi-p21 targeting p21 mRNA was constructed and the  effect of p21 shRNA on curcumin-induced apoptosis of human hepatoma Huh7 cells was investigated.  The  effect of curcumin on the expression of p21 mRNA and protein and the silence efficiency of pSi-p21 were    detected with RT-PCR and Western blotting.  The effect of pSi-p21 on curcumin-induced apoptosis of Huh7 cells was evaluated with DAPI staining.  The results showed that curcumin significantly upregulated p21 mRNA and protein expression, which was knocked down by pSi-p21 of Huh7 cells.  DAPI staining results showed that pSi-p21 significantly decreased curcumin-induced apoptosis of Huh7 cells.  The data suggested that curcumin induced apoptosis of Huh7 cells via upregulation of p21 expression.