Dickkopf3 overexpression inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro

Figure 3 Dickkopf3 mRNA expression after demethylation in vitro. A, B: AsPC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells were treated with 10 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L of the DNA demethylating agent, 5-aza-dC, for 48 h or 72 h, respectively. The results show that these two cell lines, in which the Dickkopf3 (Dkk3) promoter was initially heavily methylated, had increased Dkk3 mRNA expression that was dependent on the dosage and timing of 5-aza-dC treatment (^aP < 0.05 vs untreated MIA PaCa-2 cells or untreated AsPC-1 cells, ^bP < 0.01 vs untreated MIA PaCa-2 cells or untreated AsPC-1 cells); C, D: Control cells were incubated with dimethyl sulfoxide and fresh medium. RQ: Relative quantitation; Dkk3: Dickkopf3; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.