Inhibitory effect of RNA interference targeting insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 gene on renal cell carcinoma and its mechanism

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) gene by RNA interference (RNAi) on the activity and apoptosis of renal cell carcinoma. Methods The human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells were used as the control group, and the expression of IGF2BP1 in human renal carcinoma 786-0, A498, ACHN and CaKi-2 cells was detected by Western blotting. The IGF2BP1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) was designed and synthesized, and transfected into CaKi-2 cells by Lipofectamine™ 2000. The expression of IGF2BP1, β-catenin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Survivin proteins was detected by Western blotting. Results The expression of IGF2BP1 in 786-0 (0.415±0.038), A498 (0.278±0.030), ACHN (0.326±0.032) and CaKi-2 (0.557±0.053) cells was significantly higher than that in HEK293 cells (0.062±0.009) (P=0.003), and CaKi-2 cells were selected as the research objects. The expression of IGF2BP1 (0.073±0.010), β-catenin (0.178±0.021), PCNA (0.147±0.016) and Survivin (0.095±0.010) in the cells transfected with IGF2BP1 siRNA decreased obviously as compared with NC group [(0.485±0.055), (0.547±0.050), (0.246±0.028) and (0.168±0.018)], the cell viability (0.557±0.045) decreased obviously as compared with NC group (0.804±0.057), and the apoptosis rate [(21.48±1.54)%] increased obviously as compared with NC group [(2.46±0.27)%], with the difference being statistically significant (P=0.000). Conclusion The expression of IGF2BP1 in renal cell carcinoma cells is increased, and the inhibition of IGF2BP1 expression can significantly reduce cell viability and induce apoptosis, probably by down-regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Key words: Renal cell carcinoma; Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 gene; Apoptosis; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway