miR-15a inhibits cell proliferation and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by down-regulating Bmi-1 expression

Purposes: To investigate whether miR-15a inhibits cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) via the down-regulation of B cell-specific moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 (Bmi-1) expression. Methods and Results: miR-15a and Bmi-1 expressions in normal pancreatic tissue and PDAC tissue were measured. The relationship between miR-15a and Bmi-1 expression was analyzed. We found that miR15a suppressed the expression of Bmi-1 and PDAC cell proliferation; E-cadherin expression was visibly up-regulated after silencing Bmi-1 by transfecting miR-15a into PDAC cell line. Conclusion: miR-15a inhibits cell proliferation and EMT in PDAC via the down-regulation of Bmi-1 expression. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.