Serine Threonine Kinase Pim-3Regulates STAT3Pathway To Inhibit Proliferation Of Human Liver Cancers

Objective：This study aimed to investigate the effects of serine threonine kinase Pim-3onthe growth of HepG2cells and to explore the role of STAT3signaling pathway.Methods：Synthetic Pim-3shRNA and negative control shRNA were independentlytransfected into HepG2cells in the presence of LipofectamineTM2000. Cells weredivided into4groups: blank control group, liposome control group, negative controlgroup,and Pim-3shRNA group. Flow cytometry was performed to detect theapoptosis of these cells; RT-PCR was employed to detect the mRNA expression ofPim-3; Western blot assay was done to measure the protein expression of Pim-3,STAT3, pSTAT3Tyr705, Bcl-xL, Bad and pBadSer112.Results：When compared with blank control group, liposome group and negative controlgroup, the apoptosis index increased and the protein expression of Pim-3,pSTAT3Tyr705, Bcl-xL and pBadSer112and the Pim-3mRNA expression reduced in thePim-3shRNA group, but the protein expression of STAT3and Bad was comparableamong groups.Conclusions:Pim-3shRNA may down-regulate pSTAT3Tyr705and pBadSer112proteinexpression to inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer cells and Pim-3may serve as atarget for the treatment of liver cancer.