Selective suppression of Notch1 inhibits proliferation of renal cell carcinoma cells through JNK/p38 pathway.

The present study was performed to explore the effects of Notch1 inhibition selectively by siRNA on the proliferation and cell cycle of renal carcinoma cells. Human renal carcinoma cell lines, 786-0 and Caki-1, were treated with Si-Notch1 or negative control (NC). RT-PCR and western blotting were used to confirm the efficiency of siRNA on Notch1 expression. MTT, cell cycle analysis, colony formation as well as migration and invasion assays were performed. The expression levels of p38 and SAPK/JNK were measured by western blotting. For both cell lines, as compared with the NC group, the cell growth was markedly reduced, and colony formation was restricted in the Si-Notch1‑treated group. After incubated with Si-Notch1 or NC for 48 h, Si-Notch1-treated cells arrested the cell cycle at G1/S phase. The Si-Notch1 group also had a reduced rate of migration as well as invasion. Moreover, we observed a reduction in p-SAPK/JNK and p-p38 in Si-Notch1 transfected cells. The present study indicated that Notch signaling is important in the tumorigenesis of renal cell carcinoma. Notch1 may be a potential therapeutic regimen towards renal cell carcinoma, and JNK/p38 may serve as an important molecular mechanism for Notch1-mediated carcinogenesis.