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Negative growth control of renal cell carcinoma cell by connexin 32: Possible involvement of Her‐2
Author(s) -
Fujimoto Eriko,
Satoh Haruna,
Negishi Etsuko,
Ueno Koichi,
Nagashima Yoji,
Hagiwara Kiyokazu,
Yamasaki Hiroshi,
Yano Tomohiro
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
molecular carcinogenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.254
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1098-2744
pISSN - 0899-1987
DOI - 10.1002/mc.20025
Subject(s) - biology , cell growth , cell , cell cycle , connexin , cell culture , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , growth inhibition , progenitor cell , contact inhibition , gap junction , stem cell , intracellular , genetics
Connexin ( Cx ) genes have negative growth effects on tumor cells with certain cell specificity. We have previously reported that Cx32 is specifically downregulated in human renal cell carcinoma cell (RCC) lines as well as cancerous regions of kidneys and that the Cx is expressed in the progenitor cells of the carcinoma. However, the precise role of Cx32 in growth control of RCC cells remains unknown. In this study, we examined whether Cx32 could act in growth control against a human RCC cell, Caki‐2 cell. In order to estimate the cell growth control, we established Caki‐2 cells that have stable expression of Cx32 genes. Cx32 expression in Caki‐2 cells induced contact inhibition of growth and reduced anchorage‐independent growth ability, but did not significantly affect lag phase growth rates. This growth control by Cx32 was dependent on the inhibition of the cell‐cycle transition from G 1 to S phase at high cell density, and the inhibition of the cell‐cycle transition related to the suppression of Her‐2 activation. Furthermore, the suppression of Cx32 expression in Caki‐2 cells by short interfering RNA induced the activation of Her‐2. These data suggest that Cx32 has negative growth control of Caki‐2 cells, partly due to the inhibition of the Her‐2 activation. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.