Genistein inhibits cell growth and invasion through regulation of miR-27a in pancreatic cancer cells.
BACKGROUND
Although genistein has been reported to exert its anti-tumor activity, the exact mechanism of its action is poorly elucidated. Recently, it has been found that genistein could regulate the expression of microRNAs. Therefore, our aim in the present study was to find whether genistein regulates specific miR-27a in pancreatic cancer cells.


METHODS
We performed our studies using multiple methods including MTT assay, RT-PCR, Western blotting analysis, migration, invasion assay, and transfection.


RESULTS
We observed that genistein significantly inhibited the expression of miR-27a in pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, inhibition of miR-27a suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis as well as inhibited invasion in pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, we found a synergy effect between miR-27a and genistein on cell growth inhibition, apoptosis, and invasion, suggesting that targeting miR-27a may represent a potential strategy for treatment of pancreatic cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrated that genistein plays a tumor suppressor role in part through inhibition of miR-27a in pancreatic cancer cells.
Jun
J
Xia
Long
L
Cheng
Chuanzhong
C
Mei
Jia
J
Ma
Ying
Y
Shi
Fanpeng
F
Zeng
Zhenghuan
Z
Wang
Institute of Clinical Anatomy, Bengbu Medical College, Anhui, 233030, China. bbmcpwzh@sina.com.
Zhiwei
Z
Wang
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D019833:Genistein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C531388:MIRN27 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D019833:Genistein