Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes
15:43

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes

Published on: January 7, 2013

Down-regulation of PKCζ in renal cell carcinoma and its clinicopathological implications

Yeong-Shiau Pu1, Chao-Yuan Huang, Jyue-Yu Chen

  • 1Department of Urology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.

Journal of Biomedical Science
|April 6, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) expression is reduced in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), correlating with increased tumor grade and size. Lower PKCζ levels indicate poor survival and chemoresistance in RCC patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) exhibits high resistance to chemotherapy, leading to poor patient outcomes.
  • Atypical protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ) is implicated in tumorigenesis, but its role in RCC clinical outcomes remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between PKCζ expression levels and clinical outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
  • To assess the role of PKCζ in RCC tumorigenesis and chemoresistance.

Main Methods:

  • PKCζ mRNA and protein expression were quantified using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry in 144 RCC tissue samples.
  • Cellular cytotoxicity and proliferation assays (MTT) were performed.
  • PKCζ was inhibited using siRNA and specific inhibitors in renal cancer cell lines.

Main Results:

  • PKCζ expression was significantly lower in cancerous tissues compared to normal tissues (P<0.0001).
  • Down-regulation of PKCζ correlated with elevated tumor grade (P=0.04) and tumor size (P=0.048).
  • Lower PKCζ expression was associated with poor survival in high-grade tumors and conferred chemoresistance to cisplatin and paclitaxel.

Conclusions:

  • PKCζ expression is significantly associated with tumorigenesis in renal cell carcinoma.
  • Down-regulation of PKCζ contributes to chemoresistance and poorer prognosis in RCC patients.

More Related Videos

Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach11:11

Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach

Published on: February 21, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.