Background: The transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) plays an important role in tumor development and growth, but its role in pancreatic cancer (PC) is not clear.
Methods: KLF8 expression in human PC cell lines and tumor tissues was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. The effects of lentivirus mediated knockdown of KLF8 on proliferation and growth in Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells were examined.
Results: KLF8 was overexpressed in 5 pancreatic cancer cell lines and in samples from patients with PC. In Panc-1 cells, KLF8 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, tumorigenicity, and induced G2/M phase arrest. KLF8 knockdown suppressed PC tumor growth in nude mice model. Western blot analysis showed that KLF8 knockdown in Panc-1 cells down-regulated the expression of CDK1/CDC2, cyclin B1, and cyclin D1 and up-regulated the expression of p21, and p27.
Conclusions: Overexpression of KLF8 may contribute to the progression of pancreatic cancer, and downregulation of KLF8 expression by lentivirus-delivered shRNA is a novel therapeutic approach for PC.
Keywords: Cell proliferation; KLF8; Lentivirus; Pancreatic cancer; RNAi.
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