RNAi Depletion of Deoxycytidine and Deoxyguanosine Kinase in Human Leukemic CEM Cells

• Resistance toward nucleoside analogues is often due to decreased activities of the activating enzymes deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and/or deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK). With small interfering RNA (siRNA), dCK and dGK were downregulated by approximately 70% in CEM cells and tested against six nucleoside analogues using the methyl thiazol tetrazolium assay. SiRNA-transfected cells reduced in dCK activity were 3- to 6-fold less sensitive to CdA, AraC, and CAFdA. The sensitivity to AraG and FaraA was unchanged, while the sensitivity toward gemcitabine was significantly increased. dGK depletion in cells resulted in lower sensitivity to FaraA, dFdC, CAFdA, and AraG, but slightly higher sensitivity to CdA and AraC.

Keyword

deoxycytidine kinase

deoxyguanosine kinase

nucleoside analogue

resistance

RNA interference

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)