MicroRNA-7 functions as a tumor-suppressor gene by regulating ILF2 in pancreatic carcinoma

Int J Mol Med. 2017 Apr;39(4):900-906. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.2894. Epub 2017 Feb 17.

Abstract

Interleukin enhancer binding factor 2 (ILF2) has been found to be markedly upregulated in pancreatic carcinoma and is involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic carcinoma. Thus, ILF2 may be a potential target for therapy. Yet, the regulatory mechanisms of ILF2 in pancreatic carcinoma remain largely elusive. In the present study, we demonstrated that ILF2 functioned as an oncogene and regulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated genes in pancreatic carcinoma PANC-1 cells. MicroRNA-7 (miR-7) suppressed ILF2 mRNA expression and the protein level in PANC-1 cells. Contrary to ILF2, miRNA-7 functioned as a tumor-suppressor gene and negatively regulated EMT-associated genes in the PANC-1 cells. Curcumin, a polyphenol natural product isolated from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa, has emerged as a promising anticancer therapeutic agent. We found that treatment with curcumin increased miR-7 expression and suppressed ILF2 protein in the PANC-1 cells. Thus, we identified ILF2 as a new downstream target gene of curcumin. The results revealed that ILF2 is regulated by miR-7 and suggest that downregulation of miR-7 may be an important factor for the ILF2 overexpression in pancreatic carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Curcumin / pharmacology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Factor 45 Protein / biosynthesis*
  • Nuclear Factor 45 Protein / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • RNA, Neoplasm / biosynthesis*
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics

Substances

  • Curcumin
  • MicroRNAs
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Factor 45 Protein
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • ILF2 protein, human
  • MIRN7-1 microRNA, human