Mechanism of anthrax toxin receptor 2 expression regulated by miR-145-5p in pancreatic cancer

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the expression，clinical significance and cellular functions of anthrax toxin receptor 2（ANTXR2）in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells and to validate the mechanism of miR-145-5p in regulating ANTXR2 in pancreatic cancer cells.Methods Analysis of transcriptional and clinical data from the GEO and TCGA databases for pancreatic cancer was made. Cellular function was validated by CCK-8 assay，flow cytometry，wound healing experiment and Transwell assay. The miRNA target prediction database was used to reversely predict miRNAs that might inhibit ANTXR2 expression through the ceRNA mechanism，and it was validated using dual luciferase reporter assays.Results ANTXR2 expression was upregulated in both pancreatic cancer tissues and cells（all P<0.05），and ANTXR2 upregulation predicted poorer primary tumor grade（P<0.05），tumor cell differentiation grade（P<0.05） and overall survival（P<0.05，HR=1.72）. ANTXR2 inhibited the cell proliferation，migration and invasion（all P<0.05）. ANTXR2 was a target of miR-145-5p（P<0.01），and miR-145-5p could inhibit the proliferation，migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by suppressing the expression of ANTXR2.Conclusion ANTXR2 is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells，can promote proliferation，migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells and is associated with patient prognosis. miR-145-5p can inhibit the pro-cancerous effects of ANTXR2 by regulating its expression.