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Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane
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Published on: February 8, 2020

BIGH3 is overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Masanori Yamanaka1, Fumihiro Kimura, Yutaka Kagata

  • 1Department of Urology, National Defense Medical College, Saitama 359-8513, Japan.

Oncology Reports
|March 22, 2008
PubMed

Insights

New research identifies key genes, including beta ig-h3 (BIGH3) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), as significantly upregulated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (cc-RCC), potentially serving as new diagnostic markers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a significant health concern, and identifying novel molecular markers is crucial for improved diagnosis and prognosis.
  • Understanding the gene expression profiles in clear cell RCC (cc-RCC) can reveal potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel target marker genes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by comparing gene expression profiles.
  • To investigate the role of beta ig-h3 (BIGH3) in RCC and its correlation with other transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) related genes.

Main Methods:

  • Serial analysis of gene expression was used to compare gene expression profiles between cc-RCC and normal kidney tissue.
  • Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (QRT-PCR) was employed to measure mRNA expression levels of BIGH3, TGF-beta1, and PAI-1.
  • Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine BIGH3 protein levels in cc-RCC tissue samples.

Main Results:

  • Transforming growth factor beta induced 68 kDa protein (BIGH3), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) genes were found to be upregulated in cc-RCC.
  • BIGH3 mRNA was highly overexpressed in cc-RCC (average ratio of 27), with significantly elevated levels of TGF-beta1 and PAI-1 mRNA also observed.
  • Strong BIGH3 protein staining was prevalent in cc-RCC samples, and its upregulation correlated with poorer patient outcomes and cancer progression.

Conclusions:

  • BIGH3 and PAI-1 are significantly upregulated in cc-RCC and may serve as valuable prognostic markers.
  • The observed upregulation of BIGH3 and PAI-1 appears to be regulated by a similar mechanism, potentially involving TGF-beta1 stimulation.
  • Further research into BIGH3 as a therapeutic target could lead to improved management strategies for renal cell carcinoma.

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