Reversion of the chemo-resistance of human pancreatic cancer stem cells by microRNA-200c

Objective To explore the effect of microRNA(miRNA, miR)- 200c in reversing chemo- resistance of human pancreatic cancer stem cells. Methods CD24+ CD44+ ESA+ cells were sorted from PANC- 1 cell line by FACS.miR-200c precursor fragment and negative control fragment were transfected into pancreatic cancer stem cells. The real- time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(FQ- PCR)was used to detect the miR-200c expression.MTT assay was used to measure drug sensitivity to gemcitabine. Results CD24+ CD44+ ESA+ cells(0.8%) were isolated in PANC- 1 cells. The relative miR-200c expression level in pancreatic cancer stem cell line(0.15± 0.01) was significantly lower than that in PANC- 1 cell line(1.00±0.09, P< 0.05).The half inhibition concentration(IC50) of gemcitabine was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer stem cells group[(19.15±1.53)μmol/L] than that in PANC- 1 cells group[(0.86±0.18)μmol/L](P< 0.05).The relative miR-200c expression level in pancreatic cancer stem cell line in miR-200c precursor transfected group[(3.70±0.42)] was significantly higher than that in negative control group (0.22±0.21, P< 0.05). The IC50 of gemcitabine was significantly lower in miR-200c precursor transfected group[(0.92±0.13)μmol/L] than that in negative control group[(17.94± 1.36)μmol/L, P< 0.05]. Conclusion miR-200c could reverse chemo- resistance of human pancreatic cancer stem cells to gemcitabine. Key words: Pancreatic cancer; Stem cells; MicroRNA-200c; Transfection