Data were analyzed using CellQuest software (Becton Dickinson). All observations were reproduced at least thrice in independent experiments. In vitro and vivo apoptosis assay by TUNEL staining To evaluate apoptosis in vitro, a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end

labeling (TUNEL) assay was done in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions (ApopTag kit; Intergen Company). The invo TUNEL assay was done according to the methods described previously [21]. The stained sections of tumors of each group were reviewed, and the Apoptosis Index, determined by TUNEL staining, was determined by counting at least 1000 cells in 5 randomly selected high-power fields (magnification, ×200). Statistical analysis Statistical analyses were done with Student’s t-test using GraphPad Software program (San Diego, CA, USA). Two-tailed P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Expression of mesothelin in human pancreatic GDC-0994 molecular weight cancer cell lines We examined mesothelin expression in AsPC-1(p53-null), HPAC(wt-p53) and Capan-2(wt-p53), Capan-1 and MIA PaCa-2(mutant p53)human pancreatic cancer cell lines by western blot and RT-PCR. In protein levels, rich expression of mesothelin was found in the Capan-1 and AsPC-1 cells, and poor expression was found in the MIA PaCa-2 cells and moderate expression

in the Capan-2 cell (Figure 1A). In mRNA level, rich expression of mesothelin was found in the Capan-2 and AsPC-1 cells, and poor expression was found in the HPAC and MIA PaCa-2 Selleckchem MI-503 cells, and moderate expression in the

Capan-1 cell (Figure 1B). Figure 1 Expression of mesothelin in pancreatic cancer cell lines. A. mesothelin protein expression in Resveratrol pancreatic cancer cell lines was detected by Western blot analysis. B. Mesothelin mRNA in pancreatic tissues as detected by CYT387 solubility dmso RT-PCR analysis. Generation of mesothelin -expressing or mesothelin sliencing pancreatic cancer cells AsPC-1,Capan-1 and Capan-2 cells were transfected with mesothelin shRNA or mock shRNA. After 2 weeks of selection with G418, mesothelin -sliencing cells and vector control cells were obtained for each of the two pancreatic cancer cell lines. mesothelin mRNA and protein expression were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis (Figures 2A and B). Mesothelin was knockdown completely in the two cells. Figure 2 Mesothelin re-expressing or mesothelin sliencing in pancreatic cancer cells. A, Whole-cell lysates from mesothelin shRNA-transfected pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with anti- mesothelin antibody. GAPDH was used as a loading control. B, RT-PCR analysis of total RNA (1 μg) isolated from vector control and mesothelin shRNA -transfected pancreatic cancer cells, GAPDH was used as a loading control. C, Whole-cell lysates from mesothelin cDNA -transfected pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with anti- mesothelin antibody.