Abstract:

Background and purpose: Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a growth-related protein, and involves in promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting cell apoptosis. A lot of evidence shows there is an overexpression of TCTP in liver cancer, colon cancer and other gastrointestinal tumors. However there is no any evidence about TCTP in pancreatic cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of TCTP in pancreatic carcinogenesis to find new molecular targets and to provide a basis for targeted therapy of pancreatic cancer. Methods: Immunohistochemistry, Western immunoblot analysis, RT-PCR, immunofluorescence analysis, siRNA transfection, cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assays, cell cycle and cell apoptosis analysis were used. Results: TCTP was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and cancer cells. Moreover, silencing TCTP expression by siRNA arrested cell cycle progression, promoted cell apoptosis and eventually inhibited cell proliferation. Furthermore, Bcl-xL protein expression was positively correlatived with TCTP expression in pancreatic cancer cells, and silencing TCTP downregulated Bcl-xL expression. Conclusion: TCTP is overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer, which upregulates Bcl- xL to inhibit cell apoptosis, and eventually promotes pancreatic carcinogenesis.

Key words: TCTP, Pancreatic cancer, Bcl-xL, siRNA