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Engrailed-2 might play an anti-oncogenic role in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

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Abstract

Our preliminary study indicated that Engrailed-2 (EN2) is downregulated but also ectopically expressed in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC), and the absence of EN2 expression was associated with poor histological grade. However, the specific roles of EN2 in CCRCC have yet to be elucidated. In the present study, we examined the effects of inhibiting EN2 expression by human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and overexpressing EN2 by human clear-cell renal cells (786-O). Results showed that EN2 inhibition accelerated HK-2 cell proliferation, shortened the cell cycle, reduced apoptosis, and acted more invasively. By contrast, EN2 overexpression in 786-O cells decelerated the proliferative ability of 786-O, increased the percentage of cell apoptosis, and weakened the invasive ability. Overall, the results demonstrated that EN2 might play an anti-oncogenic role in oncogenesis and development of CCRCC, thereby maintaining the normal growth of human renal tubular epithelial cells.

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Abbreviations

CCRCC:

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma

EN2:

Engrailed 2

RT-qPCR:

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction

IHC:

Immunohistochemistry

HOX:

Homeobox

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Gegion Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81460386), General program of the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi (No. 20151BAB205014), and General program of the Medical Science Research Foundation of Guangdong (No. WSTJJ20140120362301197704250517).

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Correspondence to Ze-xuan Su.

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Lai, Cy., Xu, Y., Yu, Gs. et al. Engrailed-2 might play an anti-oncogenic role in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma. J Mol Hist 47, 229–237 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-016-9665-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-016-9665-4

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