Pou2F3 (POU class 2 homeobox 3) is found to be ubiquitously expressed in multiple epidermal layer cells to mediating proliferation. Although some POU factors exert a crucial regulation in mammary epithelial cells (MECs), the biological function of Pou2F3 is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the endogenous potential effects of Pou2F3 on the proliferation and the roles of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in MECs. We used small interfering RNA to silence Pou2F3 expression. The interfering efficiency of Pou2F3 was confirmed by using RT-qPCR and Western blot. The cell viability and proliferation were indicated by Cell Counting Kit-8 and EdU assays. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the cell apoptosis in MECs. These results demonstrated that Pou2F3 potently suppressed the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of MECs. Consistently, the primary protein expressions of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway were examined by Western blot. Pou2F3 silencing significantly increased the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT and mTOR expressions. Moreover, Pou2F3 silencing reduced the ratio of BCL-2/BAX protein expression. Our findings show that Pou2F3 silencing can induce the proliferation of MECs and decrease the cell apoptosis, which suggest that Pou2F3 may serve as a potential upstream regulator of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in MECs.
Keywords: Pou2F3; apoptosis; dairy goat; mammary epithelial cells; proliferation.