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miR-208-Induced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition of Pancreatic Cancer Cells Promotes Cell Metastasis and Invasion

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-208 in the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanism. miR-208 mimic, miR-208 inhibitor and NC were transfected into pancreatic cancer cell line Bxpc3 using liposome. Transwell invasion and scratch assays were used to test cell migratory and invasive abilities. Western blotting and quantitative PCR methods were used to detect E-cadherin, fibronectin and vimentin protein and mRNA expression in pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC3 after transfection by miR-208 mimic, miR-208 inhibitor and NC. Transwell invasion and scratch assays showed that after overexpressing miR-208, pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC3 exhibited enhanced in vitro migratory and invasive abilities, while after downregulating miR-208 expression, cell migratory and invasive abilities were decreased. Western blotting and quantitative PCR showed that after overexpressing miR-208, expression of E-cadherin, an epithelial cell marker, was decreased and expression of fibronectin and vimentin, interstitial cell markers, was increased in pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC3; however, after inhibiting miR-208, increased E-cadherin expression and decreased fibronectin and vimentin expression were observed in pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC3. After overexpressing miR-208, p-AKT and p-GSK-3β expression was altered by activating AKT/GSK-3β/snail signaling pathway. miR-208 induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition of pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC3 by activating AKT/GSK-3β/snail signaling pathway and thereby promotes cell metastasis and invasion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, No. 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai City, 200433, People’s Republic of China

    Anan Liu, Chenghao Shao, Gang Jin, Rui Liu, Jun Hao, Bin Song, Liu Ouyang & Xiangui Hu

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  1. Anan Liu
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  2. Chenghao Shao
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  3. Gang Jin
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  4. Rui Liu
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  5. Jun Hao
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  6. Bin Song
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  7. Liu Ouyang
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  8. Xiangui Hu
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Correspondence to Xiangui Hu.

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Liu, A., Shao, C., Jin, G. et al. miR-208-Induced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition of Pancreatic Cancer Cells Promotes Cell Metastasis and Invasion. Cell Biochem Biophys 69, 341–346 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-013-9805-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-013-9805-3

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