Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of silencing carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1) on proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration of human lung cancer A549 cells. METHODS: CA1-specific siRNA (si-CA1 group) and negative control (si-NC group) were transfected into lung cancer A549 cells by lipofection. The A549 cells transfected with empty liposome were used as blank control group. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot (Western blot) were used to detect the expression of CA1 mRNA and protein. Cell counting kit method (CCK-8), flow cytometry and Transwell assay were used to detect proliferation and apoptosis of A549 cells, invasion and migration capabilities. RESULTS:qPCR and Western blot showed that the expression levels of CA1 mRNA and protein in A549 cells transfected with CA1 siRNA were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). The results of CCK-8 assay showed that silencing of CA1 in Si-CA1 group was observed. The OD values at 24, 48 and 72 h were significantly lower than those in the si-NC group (P<0.05). The results of flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate of A549 cells in si-CA1 group was significantly higher than that in si-NC group (P<0.05). Transwell results showed that the number of invading and migrating cells in the si-CA1 group was significantly lower than that in the si-NC group (P<0.05). Compared with the Blank group, the differences of the above indicators in the si-NC group were not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Silencing CA1 can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of lung cancer A549 cells and promote cell apoptosis.

Key words: carbonic anhydrase 1, human lung cancer A549 cells, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion