SLC39A1 Contributes to Gemcitabine Resistance of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma by Activating AMPK Signaling

Abstract

Objective: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) serves as a prevailing tumor type with high mortality and poor prognosis. The study aims to explore the mechanism of gemcitabine resistance in PDAC patients. Methods: Immunohistochemistry(IHC)was used to analyze the expression of SLC39A1 in PDAC samples. PDAC cells were culture and transfected with siSLC39A1 and siNC, respectively. Cell proliferation analysis was performed using CCK-8 assay. And qPCR and Western blotting was used to analysis the expression level of SLC39A1 and related signal molecular in cells. Results: IHC results demonstrated that the SLC39A1 expression was significantly up-regulated in the gemcitabine-resistant PDAC samples compared with gemcitabine-sensitive PDAC samples. The treatment of gemcitabine dose-dependently inhibited the viability of the PDAC cells. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein expression of SLC39A1 were elevated in the gemcitabine-resistant PDAC. The treatment of gemcitabine remarkably decreased viability of PDACs, in which SLC39A1 depletion could reverse this effect. SLC39A1 knockdown could reverse the gemcitabine-induced phosphorylation of AMPK enhanced and gemcitabine-inhibited S6K expression. Conclusion: SLC39A1 contributed to gemcitabine resistance of PDAC by activating AMPK signaling.