[Knockdown of placental-specific protein 8 (PLAC8) inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of human embryonic stem cells].

Objective To investigate the effect of placenta-specific protein 8 (PLAC8) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Methods Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the infection efficiency of hESCs in short hairpin RNA negative control group, short hairpin RNA PLAC8 (shPLAC8) group, and PLAC8 over-expression (PLAC8-OE) group. The mRNA and protein levels of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D1 (CCND1) in each group were also detected by the above methods. The flow cytometry was used to test the effect of PLAC8 knockdown or over-expression on the apoptosis of hESCs. Results The mRNA and protein levels of CCND1 and PCNA in the shPLAC8 group decreased, and cell apoptosis increased. The mRNA and protein expression of CCND1 and PCNA in the PLAC8 over-expression group were slightly up-regulated, while the apoptosis was slightly down-regulated, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion The knockdown of PLAC8 expression can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of hESCs.