Changes in gene expression profiles induced by parvovirus H-1 in human gastric cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE  The autonomous parvovirus H-1 exhibits preferential toxicity for transformed or tumor cells. The precise molecular mechanism of H-1 virus-associated cytotoxicity is not fully understood. The present study aimed at gaining more information about parvovirus-induced cellular disturbances. METHODS  The H-1 virus-sensitive human gastric cancer cell line HGC27 was analyzed in the present study. cDNA microarrays were used to determine the global cellular gene expression changes which occur during the process of H-1 virus-induced death of HGC27 cells. A subset of differential expressed genes was further tested by RT-PCR and Northern blot analyzes. RESULTS  A total of 920 genes belonging to various functional groups were found to be differentially expressed in H-1 virus- versus mock-infected cells in cDNA microarrays. Among them, 363 genes were upregulated, whilst 557 genes were downregulated. The differential expressions of some of these genes were further confirmed by RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis. CONCLUSION  Some of genes known to be involved in cell signal transduction, apoptosis, DNA replication, DNA repair, DNA binding and transcription were differentially expressed after parvovirus H-1 infection, they might play a role in H-1 virus-induced gastric cancer cell death. These genes represent interesting candidates to be tested at the functional level for their contribution to the disturbances triggered by H-1 virus in tumor cells.