title: MicroRNA-138-5p regulates pancreatic cancer cell growth through targeting FOXC1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prognosis of pancreatic cancer ranks among the worst of all cancer types, which is primarily due to the fact that during the past decades little progress has been made in its diagnosis and treatment. Here, we set out to investigate the role of microRNA 138 (miR-138-5p) in the regulation of pancreatic cancer cell growth and to assess its role as putative therapeutic target.
  
  
  METHODS
  qRT-PCR was used to examine the expression of miR-138-5p in 8 pancreatic cancer cell lines and 18 primary human pancreatic cancer samples. A lentivirual vector containing miR-138-5p mimics (lv-miR-138-5p) was used to exogenously over-express miR-138-5p in the pancreatic cancer cells lines Capan-2 and PANC-1. The effect of this over-expression on cell proliferation was examined using an in vitro propidium iodide fluorescence assay. Capan-2 cells exogenously over-expressing miR-138-5p were transplanted into nude mice to examine its in vivo effect on tumor growth. A predicted target of miR-138-5p (FOXC1) was first validated using a luciferase assay and, subsequently, down-regulated by siRNA to assess its effect on pancreatic cancer cell growth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that miR-138-5p was markedly down-regulated in both pancreatic cancer cell lines and primary human pancreatic cancer samples, compared to a human pancreas ductal epithelial (HPDE) cell line and normal pancreatic tissues, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, we found that in the pancreatic cancer cells lines Capan-2 and PANC-1 lentiviral transfection of miR-138-5p mimicked up-regulation of the endogenous expression of miR-138-5p and, concomitantly, inhibited cancer cell proliferation (P < 0.05). The exogenous over-expression of miR-138-5p also led to a significant inhibition of tumor formation in vivo. Using a luciferase assay, we found that miR-138-5p directly targets FOXC1. In conformity with this notion, we found that FOXC1 was down-regulated upon miR-138-5p over-expression in pancreatic cancer cells. Finally, we found that silencing of FOXC1 by siRNA had an inhibitory effect on pancreatic cancer cell growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that miR-138-5p may play an important role in regulating pancreatic cancer cell growth, possibly through targeting FOXC1. Over-expression of miR-138-5p may serve as a novel approach for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.
authors: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical College, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, 550004, China.
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Yu
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Zhipeng
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Xiao
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Peng
authors: Xingjun
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: Yazhu
authors: Y
authors: Deng
authors: Jianxin
authors: J
authors: Jiang
authors: Chengyi
authors: C
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C112743:FOXC1 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C546110:MIRN138 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs