To explain the poor prognosis of new-onset diabetes complicating pancreatic cancer, the impact of insulin on the absorption of sodium by the pancreatic cancer cell (SW1990) was detected.

The SW1990 cell line cultured in the high glucose DMEM medium was stimulated with insulin of gradient concentration, and the concentrations of Na⁺ in medium were detected at different time to explore the dose effect and time effect. The impact of insulin on serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1), and the possible signaling pathways were also studied.

The expression of SGK1 was remarkably increased(P<0.05) while the concentration of Na⁺ in cell culture solution decreased(P<0.05) after SW1990 was treated with insulin, and the descending range of Na⁺ was positively related to the SGK1 protein level(r=0.715, P=0.009); the expression of CREBBP and EP300 was closely associated with acetylation elevated apparently after insulin was added(P<0.05).

Insulin can promote the absorption of sodium by the pancreatic cell line, which correlates to the transcription level of SGK1 gene, and acetylation may play a role in this process.