Expression of Ksp-cadherin during kidney development and in renal cell carcinoma

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 92; no. 11; pp. 2010 - 2017
• Main Authors: THEDIECK, C, KUCZYK, M, KLINGEL, K, STEIERT, I, MÜLLER, C. A, KLEIN, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 06-06-2005
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Cadherins - biosynthesis; Cadherins - genetics; Cancer research; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - physiopathology; Cell adhesion & migration; Down-Regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Immunology; Kidney - embryology; Kidney cancer; Kidney Neoplasms - genetics; Kidney Neoplasms - physiopathology; Kidneys; Medical research; Medical sciences; Molecular Diagnostics; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; Germany; Kidney disease; Urinary system disease; Carcinoma; Malignant tumor; Cadherin; cadherin-16; Adhesion; renal cell carcinoma; Cancerology; Urinary system; cell adhesion; renal development; Grawitz tumor; cadherin super-family
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6602597

Cadherins are a large family of cell-cell adhesion molecules acting in a homotypic, homophilic manner that play an important role in the maintenance of tissue integrity. In the human kidney, several members of the cadherin family (including E- and N-cadherin, cadherin-6, -8 and -11) are expressed in a controlled spatiotemporal pattern. Cadherin-16, also called kidney-specific (Ksp-) cadherin, is exclusively expressed in epithelial cells of the adult kidney. In renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), which are considered to originate from epithelial kidney tubular cells, a complex pattern of cadherin expression can be observed, but Ksp-cadherin expression has not been analysed so far. In the present study, we show that the expression of Ksp-cadherin is completely abrogated in RCCs. Whereas Ksp-cadherin can be detected at later stages of tubulogenesis during human renal development and in the distal tubules of adult kidneys, no expression was found by immunohistochemistry or Western blot analysis in RCC tumour tissues and several RCC cell lines. However, despite the lack of protein expression, mRNA synthesis of Ksp-cadherin could be detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis in all RCC tissues and most of the RCC cell lines studied, although at a reduced level. The loss of Ksp-cadherin protein was only observed in the malignant part of the tumour kidneys, whereas in the normal part of the affected kidneys Ksp-cadherin expression was clearly detected. These results indicate a downregulation of Ksp-cadherin in RCC and suggest a role for this cell adhesion molecule in tumour suppression.