The role of Wnt/β-catenin/TCF-4 pathway on biological behavior of renal cell carcinoma and its mechanism

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin/TCF-4 pathway in renal cancer cells and to analyze its possible mechanism. Methods: β-catenin and TCF-4 were inhibited by siRNA in 786-O cells. The proliferation of transfected cells was detected by CCK8. The cell death of transfected cells was detected by acridine orange -ethidium bromide staining. The expressions of TCF-4, bcl-2, bax and Caspase-3 were detected in transfection group, empty vector group and negative control groups by western blot. Results: The cell proliferation ability of the β-catenin transfection group was significantly lower than that of the control group (0.443±0.145 vs 0.910±0.721), meanwhile, the cell death rate was significantly increased (16.38±5.32 vs 6.61±1.04), the expression level of Caspase 3 and bax was increased, and the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was decreased. Decreased TCF-4 led to the same results as inhibition of β-catenin (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The Wnt/β-catenin/TCF-4 pathway may play a role in the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis in 786-O renal cancer cells. The mechanism might through regulating of the downstream apoptosis proteins Caspase 3, bax and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.