Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and KGF receptor (KGFR) antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) on cell cycle and apoptosis of HaCat cells. Methods HaCaT cell, an immortalized keratinocyte cell strain, was cultured in vitro. Flow cytometry was used to measure the cell cycle and apoptosis mediated by KGF and ASODN. Results The rates of S phase and apoptosis in the group treated with KGF increased significantly than those in the control group (both P<0.01). With the treatment of KGFR mRNA ASODN the increase of the rates of S phase and apoptosis induced by KGF were significantly suppressed (P<0.01, P<0.05 respectively) in a dose-dependent manner (r=0.99, P<0.05). Conclusions KGF may play an important role in cell cycle and apoptosis of KC, while KGFR mRNA ASODN is an effective inhibitor of proliferation and apoptosis mediated by KGF, which may make a sense in the treatment of psoriasis.

Key words: KGF, Cell cycle, Apoptosis, Oligonueleotide, antisense