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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes
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Protein kinase C ζ regulates survivin expression and inhibits apoptosis in colon cancer

Yoshifumi Umemori1, Kageaki Kuribayashi1, Shinya Nirasawa1

  • 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South-1, West-16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan.

International Journal of Oncology
|June 13, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Protein kinase C ζ (PKCζ) regulates survivin expression, inhibiting apoptosis in colon cancer. Targeting PKCζ enhances sensitivity to TRAIL and 5-FU chemotherapy, offering a new therapeutic strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is crucial for cell survival in various cancers.
  • Protein kinase C ζ (PKCζ) is implicated in the PI3K pathway and cell survival signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of PKCζ in regulating apoptosis in colon cancer cells.
  • To explore the potential of targeting PKCζ for enhancing colon cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized short interfering RNA (siPKCζ) to reduce PKCζ expression in HCT116 and SW480 colon cancer cells.
  • Assessed apoptosis induction by TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) and chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
  • Quantified survivin protein and mRNA levels and analyzed the correlation between survivin and PKCζ in patient specimens.

Main Results:

  • siPKCζ sensitized colon cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
  • PKCζ inhibition led to decreased survivin protein and mRNA expression without affecting protein half-life.
  • A significant positive correlation was observed between survivin and PKCζ expression in colon cancer tissues (r=0.72, P=3.01x10‑4).
  • siPKCζ enhanced the chemosensitivity of colon cancer cells to 5-FU.

Conclusions:

  • PKCζ plays a role in inhibiting apoptosis in colon cancer by regulating survivin expression.
  • Targeting PKCζ represents a promising strategy for combination therapy to improve colon cancer treatment outcomes.

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