Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD) expression is negatively associated with microRNA-301a in human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC)

Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD) expression has been found to be low in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Previously, we have reported that microRNA-301a (miR-301a) was found being upregulated via nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) feedback loop in human PDAC. In this study, we investigate whether the miR-301a expression level is associated with MnSOD expression in human PDAC. We established a xenograft PDAC mouse model using transfected PanC-1 cells (miR-301a antisense or scrambled control) to investigate tumor growth and the interaction between MnSOD and miR-301a. The animal study indicated that miR-301a antisense transfection could significantly decrease the growth rate of inoculated PDAC cells, and this decrease in tumor growth rate is associated with increased MnSOD expression. To evaluate the MnSOD-miR-301a correlation in human PDAC, we have analyzed a total of 60 PDAC specimens, along with 20 normal pancreatic tissue (NPT) specimens. Human specimens confirmed a significant decrease of MnSOD expression in PDAC specimens (0.88 ± 0.38) compared with NPT control (2.45 ± 0.76; P<0.05), while there was a significant increase in miR-301a levels in PDAC specimens (0.89 ± 0.28) compared with NPT control (0.25 ± 0.41; P<0.05). We conclude that MnSOD expression is negatively associated with miR-301a levels in PDAC tissues, and lower Users may view, print, copy, and download text and data-mine the content in such documents, for the purposes of academic research, subject always to the full Conditions of use:http://www.nature.com/authors/editorial_policies/license.html#terms To whom correspondence should be addressed, Yan Li, MD, Ph.D., 511 S Floyd ST., MDR Bldg Rm # 326A, Louisville, KY 40202, Tel: 502-852-7107, Fax 502-629-3030, [email protected]. Correspondence may also be addressed to: Robert C.G. Martin, MD, Ph.D., 315 E. Broadway # 312, Louisville, KY 40202 Tel: 502-629-3355, Fax: 502-629-3030, [email protected]. Competing interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. HHS Public Access Author manuscript Cancer Gene Ther. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 April 01. Published in final edited form as: Cancer Gene Ther. 2015 October ; 22(10): 481–486. doi:10.1038/cgt.2015.46. A uhor M anscript