Abstract: Objective To probe into the gene therapy of psoriasis using antisense oligonucleotides to attenuate the expression of K14 gene and protein in keratinocytes and evaluate the inhibitory effects of liposome conjugated antisense oligonucleotides on the proliferation of keratinocytes. Methods The antisense, sense and mismatched oligonucleotides for K14 gene were synthesized and conjugated with lipofectin respectively. Finally they were subsequently transfected into cultured keratinocytes in vitro. The expression of K14 gene was tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of K14 protein was measured by immunohistochemistry. The variation of cell growth cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Results The expression of K14 gene and protein was markedly decreased in keratinocytes treated with K14 antisense oligonucleotides. The cell growth cycle was inhibited effectively by antisense oligonucleotides with lipofection, but not by sense and mismatched oligonucleotides. Conclusions Antisense oligonucleotides conjugated with lipofectin might be a hopeful method to inhibit the proliferation of keratinocytes by inhibiting the expression of K14 mRNA and protein.

Key words: Oligonucleotides, antisense, Keratin, Keratinocytes, Liposomes