Expression of hepaCAM and Its Effect on Proliferation of Tumor Cells in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate hepaCAM (hepatocyte cell adhesion molecule) gene expression in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to explore its effect on proliferation of 786-0 cells. hepaCAM is a tumor suppressor gene, which has been identified as a member of immunoglobulin superfamily cell adhesion molecule. Methods: Two-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to determine hepaCAM expression in 30 paired (RCC and the adjacent non-RCC) renal specimens. Transfection studies were carried out by expressing green fluorescent protein and green fluorescent protein-fused hepaCAM in 786-0 cells. Results: Significant downregulation of hepaCAM was detected in 25 of 30 RCC patients tested. When transfected into 786-0 cells, the number of colony formation was reduced by 5-fold according to colony formation assay. MTT (3-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) showed the inhibition rates on the fourth, fifth, and sixth days of culturing were 26.5%, 38.1%, and 35.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Our data show that hepaCAM is frequently downregulated in RCC, and that exogenous hepaCAM exhibits antiproliferative effect on 786-0 cells, suggesting that silencing of hepaCAM may be associated with carcinogenesis of RCC. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.