Phospholipase C delta 1 inhibits WNT/β‐catenin and EGFR-FAK-ERK signaling and is disrupted by promoter CpG methylation in renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background PLCD1, located at 3p22, encodes an enzyme that mediates cellular metabolism and homeostasis, intracellular signal transduction and movement. PLCD1 plays a pivotal role in tumor suppression of several types of cancers; however, its expression and underlying molecular mechanisms in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) pathogenesis remain elusive. Methods RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect PLCD1 expression in RCC cell lines and normal tissues. Bisulfite treatment, MSP and BGS were utilized to explore the CpG methylation status of PLCD1 promoter. Online databases were analyzed for the association between PLCD1 expression/methylation and patient survival. In vitro experiments including CCK8, colony formation, wound-healing, transwell migration and invasion, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry assays were performed to evaluate tumor cell behavior. Luciferase assay and Western blot were used to examine effect of PLCD1 on WNT/β‐catenin and EGFR‐FAK-ERK signaling. Results We found that PLCD1 was widely expressed in multiple adult normal tissues including kidney, but frequently downregulated or silenced in RCC due to its promoter CpG methylation. Restoration of PLCD1 expression inhibited the viability, migration and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in RCC cells. PLCD1 restoration led to the inhibition of signaling activation of WNT/β-catenin and EGFR-FAK-ERK pathways, and the EMT program of RCC cells. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that PLCD1 is a potent tumor suppressor frequently inactivated by promoter methylation in RCC and exerts its tumor suppressive functions via suppressing WNT/β‐catenin and EGFR‐FAK-ERK signaling. These findings establish PLCD1 as a promising prognostic biomarker and treatment target for RCC.

Anti-Cancer Potential of Phytochemicals: The Regulation of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

“…As an HMGB1 inhibitor, GA treatment of DU145 cells showed restrained EMT processes and disrupted cell migration [128]. In hepatocellular carcinoma cells, the aglycone of GA, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (22) reduced TGF-β-induced EMT and metastasis but not proliferation. The potential mechanism was supposed to be that GA reduced STAT3 phosphorylation [129].…”

“…EGF is also a well-known EMT inducer. Through binding to its receptor EGFR, EGF-induced signals are transmitted by PI3K, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), or rat sarcoma (RAS) pathways [ 22 , 23 ] ( Figure 1 ).…”