Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) against the Survivin Gene Increases Apoptosis in a Canine Melanoma Cell Line

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The effect of down-regulation of survivin expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) against the canine survivin gene on apoptosis was investigated by transfecting MCM-N1 (a canine malignant oral melanoma cell line) cells with siRNA using cationic liposomes. The siRNA against the canine survivin gene induced an increase in the rate of apoptotic cells and a decrease in the number of viable cells. We also measured sequence-specific down-regulation of survivin expression by reverse transcription-PCR and western blot analysis. The siRNA directed against survivin reduced both mRNA and protein expression in MCM-N1 cells. These findings suggest the importance of survivin in canine melanoma tumors for inducing apoptosis, and reinforce the possibility of using survivin as a putative therapeutic target in canine malignant melanoma tumor.