Neuropilin1 silencing impairs the proliferation and migration of cells in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND: Neuropilin1 (NRP1) participates in cancer cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis as a multifunctional co‐receptor by interacting with multiple signal pathways, but few studies have addressed the precise function of NRP1 in pancreatic cancer (PACA) cells. We aimed to study whether NRP1 gene silencing involved in the proliferation and migration of PACA cells in vitro. METHODS: A lentiviral vector expressing NRP1 shRNA was constructed and transfected into human PACA cells (CFPAC‐1 and PANC‐1). The expression of NRP1 protein and mRNA was detected by Western blot and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) assay, respectively. CCK‐8 assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay were conducted to examine the effect of NRP1 silencing on cells proliferation and migration capability. RESULTS: Results of qRT‐PCR and Western blot showed successfully established, stably transfected shRNA‐NRP1 cells in PACA cells. The proliferation capacity of PACA cells in NRP1 shRNA group was lower significantly than that in the negative control (NC) group (P < .05). The invasion and migration capability of PACA cells in NRP1 shRNA group was lower significantly than that in the NC group (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: NRP1‐shRNA lentiviral interference vectors can effectively decrease NRP1 gene expression in PACA cells, thereby inhibiting cells proliferation and migration, which provides a basis for finding a valuable therapeutic target for PACA therapy.