Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AODN) on telomerase activity and cell apoptosis in a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) cell line, Hut78. Methods Different concentrations (10 μmol/L, 20 μmol/L, 30 μmol/L) of telomerase antisense oligodeoxynucleotide were introduced into Hut78 cells by lipofectamine-mediated DNA transfection technique. The expressions of hTERT mRNA and telomerase activity were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and telomeric repeat amplification protocol, respectively. The proliferation and apoptosis of Hut78 cells were detected by flow cytometry. Results After 72 h of incubation, AODN down-regulated the expression of hTERT mRNA, inhibited telomerase activity significantly,and suppressed the viability of Hut78 cells in a time-dependent manner.Cell growth was most clearly suppressed with 30 μmol/L of AODN after 72 h of incubation. The apoptotic rate was 13.05%. Conclusion Telomerase antisense oligodeoxynucleotide could suppress the viability and proliferation of CTCL cell line by inducing apoptosis of these cells.

Key words: Lymphoma, T-cell, cutaneous, Oligonucleotides, antisense, Telomerase