<p>(A) CUGBP2 is necessary for curcumin-induced COX-2 and VEGF mRNA levels. MiaPaCa-2 cells were transfected with CUGBP2 siRNA for 72 h and subsequently treated with curcumin for 2 h. Knockdown of CUGBP2 significantly decreased curcumin-mediated increase in COX-2 and VEGF mRNA expression (*p<0.05). Data from three independent experiments. (B) Western blot analyses of MiaPaCa-2 cell lysates demonstrate that knockdown of CUGBP2 partially restored the expression of COX-2 and VEGF proteins. (C) Knockdown of CUGBP2 reduces curcumin-induced stability of COX-2 and VEGF mRNA. MiaPaCa-2 cells were treated with curcumin for 2 h and the stability of COX-2 and VEGF mRNA were determined following addition of actinomycin D (10 µg/ml). Curcumin increases the half life of COX-2 and VEGF mRNA. However, knockdown of CUGBP2 using specific siRNA before curcumin treatment decreased the stability of both COX-2 and VEGF mRNA.</p
