miR-324-5p contributes to cell proliferation and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer by targeting KLF3

Abstract Pancreatic cancer cells are characterized by high cell proliferation and low cell apoptosis, but the factors involving in these processes remain to be further studied. Here, we report that miR-324-5p regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells through regulating the expression of KLF3. In both pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines, the levels of miR-324-5p are significantly increased. Inhibition of miR-324-5p represses cell proliferation but promotes cell apoptosis, whereas overexpression of miR-324-5p exerts opposite effect. Furthermore, we identified KLF3, a factor regulating pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis, as a new direct downstream target of miR-324-5p. Our results suggest that miR-324-5p plays an important role in pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis via downregulating the expression of KLF3.