Pancreatic Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Pancreatic Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Thymosinalpha1 stimulates cell proliferation by activating ERK1/2, JNK, and increasing cytokine secretion in human pancreatic cancer cells.

Li M, Feurino LW, Li F, Wang H, Zhai Q, Fisher WE, Chen C, Yao Q

Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. minili@bcm.tmc.edu

In this study, we investigated the expression and function of thymosinalpha1 (Thyalpha1) in human pancreatic cancer. We found that human pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc-1, Panc03.27, ASPC-1, and PL45 cells significantly over-expressed the mRNA of Thyalpha1 as compared to the normal human pancreatic ductal epithelium (HPDE) cells.. Thyalpha1 mRNA and protein levels were also over-expressed in clinical pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens. In addition, synthetic Thyalpha1 significantly promoted Panc-1 cell proliferation and increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK. Furthermore, Thyalpha1 increased the secretion of multiple cytokines including IL-10, IL-13, and IL-17 in Panc-1 cells. Thus, Thyalpha1 may have a new role in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis.

Published 5 March 2007 in Cancer Lett, 248(1): 58-67.
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