Mitofusin 2 inhibits bladder cancer cell proliferation and invasion via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Mitochondrial dynamics play a crucial role in cancer progression.
• Mitofusin-2 (MFN2), a mitochondrial GTPase, is implicated in various cellular processes.
• The specific role of MFN2 in bladder cancer remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the biological role of MFN2 in bladder cancer.
• To determine the association between MFN2 expression and clinicopathological parameters.
• To explore MFN2's impact on bladder cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative analysis of MFN2 mRNA expression in tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues.
• Immunohistochemical assessment of MFN2 protein expression in 117 bladder cancer specimens.
• In vitro and in vivo experiments involving MFN2 knockdown using small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Main Results:

• MFN2 expression was significantly downregulated in bladder cancer tissues compared to normal tissues.
• Low MFN2 expression correlated with advanced tumor stage, higher tumor grade, and positive lymph node status.
• Patients with low MFN2 expression exhibited significantly shorter overall survival.
• MFN2 knockdown promoted bladder cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and enhanced tumor progression in vivo.
• MFN2 was mechanistically linked to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Conclusions:

• MFN2 is downregulated in bladder cancer and serves as a prognostic biomarker.
• MFN2 plays an inhibitory role in bladder cancer progression.
• MFN2 represents a potential therapeutic target for bladder cancer treatment.