Mechanism of piperlongumine induced Sp downregulation. Mechanism of piperlongumine induced Sp downregulation. A, Proposed mechanism of piperlongumine-induced Sp downregulation by initial induction of ROS. B, Panc1 cells were treated with 5 μmol/L piperlongumine for up to 24 hours, and whole-cell lysates were analyzed by Western blots. C, Panc1 cells were treated with 5 μmol/L piperlongumine or 5 mmol/L GSH alone for 4 hours, and whole-cell lysates were analyzed by Western blots. Panc1 cells with 5 μmol/L piperlongumine or 5 mmol/L GSH alone and in combination for up to 24 hours, and the extracted RNA (D) or protein (E) was analyzed by real-time PCR or Western blots, respectively. Results in D are means ± SEM for at least three replicates, and significant (P < 0.05) miRNA downregulation by piperlongumine (*) and reversal by cotreatment with GSH (**) are indicated. Keshav Karki et al. Cancer Prev Res 2017;10:467-477 ©2017 by American Association for Cancer Research