Kidney injury molecule-1 inhibits metastasis of renal cell carcinoma.

Metastasis is present in approximately 30% of patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and is associated with a 5-year survival rate of < 15%. Kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), encoded by the HAVCR1 gene, is a proximal tubule cell-surface glycoprotein and a biomarker for early detection of RCC, but its pathophysiological significance in RCC remains unclear. We generated human and murine RCC cell lines either expressing or lacking KIM-1, respectively, and compared their growth and metastatic properties using validated methods.

Heterotrimeric Gα proteins in kidney injury and disease.

Gα and Gα are ubiquitous members of the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) family that play central and integrative roles in the regulation of signal transduction cascades within various cell types in the kidney. Gα/Gα proteins enable the kidney to adapt to an ever-changing environment by transducing stimuli from cell surface receptors and accessory proteins to effector systems. Therefore, perturbations in Gα/Gα levels or their activity can contribute to the pathogenesis of various renal diseases, including renal cancer.