The expression and function of RASAL2 in renal cell carcinoma angiogenesis

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Aug 29;9(9):881. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0898-x.

Abstract

Patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) often develop resistance to antivascular drugs and eventually succumb to disease. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that RASAL2, a RAS GTPase-activating protein, played a tumor-suppressive role in RCC by targeting tumor angiogenesis. Firstly, we showed that RASAL2 was frequently epigenetically silenced in RCC, and its loss was negatively correlated with overall survival of RCC patients. Furthermore, we discovered that RASAL2 could inhibit RCC angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we identified that RASAL2 could activate GSK3β by reducing Ser9 phosphorylation and subsequently decrease the expression of c-FOS and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Interruption of the p-GSK3β/c-FOS pathway with the specific inhibitor or small interfering RNA could reverse the expression of VEGFA, which may provide a new insight to prevent RCC from resistance to antivascular therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / physiology
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Phosphorylation / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • RASAL2 protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta