COL11A1 acted as a downstream of Mist1 to promote the EMT in pancreatic cancer
Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. The tumor microenvironment is closely related to the occurrence, growth, and metastasis of tumors. Collagen type XI alpha 1 chain (COL11A1), as a component of extracellular collagen, has been proven to be responsible for tumor development and drug resistance in various cancers. However, it’s role in pancreatic cancer remains unknown. Method The GEPIA (Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis) web tool was used to clarify the differential expression of COL11A1 and clinical prognosis in pancreatic cancer. Functional experiments were performed to assess the effect of COL11A1 on the state of pancreatic cells in vitro. Mouse xenograft models and pulmonary metastasis models were established to investigate the influence of COL11A1 in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays and dual-luciferase assays were applied to assess the relationship between muscle, intestine and stomach expression 1 (Mist1) and COL11A1.Results The upregulated expression of COL11A1 in pancreatic cancer led to a worse prognosis and overall survival for patients with pancreatic cancer. Knockdown of COL11A1 in pancreatic cancer cell lines inhibited their proliferation and invasion, while upregulating COL11A1 increased those abilities. The ChIP and dual-luciferase assays clarified Mist1 could bind to the promoter of COL11A1 as a transcription factor and repress its transcription. Meanwhile, we found that the N-terminal repressor region of Mist1 was capable of inhibiting COL11A1 expression.Conclusion We identified COL11A1 as a carcinogen in pancreatic cancer, and clarified a novel mechanism which Mist1 reverses the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in pancreatic cancer by repressing COL11A1 expression.