title: Oncogenic miR-23a in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinogenesis Via Inhibiting APAF1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  miR-23a, which participates in invasion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells into the mesothelial barrier, is a critical regulator in many cancers. It, however, is still unknown whether miR-23a regulates pancreatic cell proliferation and apoptosis or not.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to investigate the role of miR-23a in regulation of pancreatic cell proliferation and apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  miRNA, mRNA, and protein expressions were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used in detection for binding ability of miR-23a to APAF1. Ectopic miR-23a and APAF 1 were introduced to pancreatic cells, and their roles in proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT, colony formation, and apoptosis assays, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Up-regulation of miR-23a and down-regulation of APAF 1 were found in pancreatic ductal cancer, respectively. miR-23a significantly inhibited the luciferase activity by targeting APAF 1 3'UTR. Ectopic miR-23a significantly suppressed the APAF 1 gene expression in pancreatic cancer cells. Similar to siAPAF1, miR-23a significantly promoted pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and repressed apoptosis. Furthermore, miR-23a inhibitor and exogenous APAF 1 could recover the effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that miR-23a, acting as an oncogenic regulator by directly targeting APAF 1 in pancreatic cancer, is a useful potential biomarker in diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110013, People's Republic of China, liuning811103@sina.com.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiao-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhao-Xiong
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shao-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Guang-Bin
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Wei-Neng
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000378:metabolism*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C506592:APAF1 protein, human; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C552430:MIRN23a microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger