Capn4 contributes to tumor invasion and metastasis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells via modulating talin-focal adhesion kinase signaling pathway.

Calpain small subunit 1 (Capn4) has been shown to correlate with the metastasis/invasion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). This study aimed to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying Capn4-mediated ccRCC progression. The mRNA expression levels in ccRCC cells were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. The effects of Capn4 on cell adhesion, invasion, and migration were examined by cell adhesion assay, cell invasion assay, and wound-healing assay, respectively. The protein levels were detected by western blot analysis. The effect of Capn4 on cancer metastasis in vivo was assessed in a nude mice xenograft model. It was found that Capn4 was up-regulated in the ccRCC cells, and Capn4 overexpression suppressed cell adhesion activity and increased cell invasion and migration in 786-O cells, while Capn4 silencing increased cell adhesion activity and impaired the invasion and migration ability of Caki-1 cells. Capn4 overexpression also increased the protein level of cleaved talin in 786-O cells, while Capn4 silencing decreased the protein level of cleaved talin in Caki-1 cells. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/AKT/MAPK signaling was activated by Capn4 overexpression in 786-O cells, and was inhibited by Capn4 down-regulation in Caki-1 cells. Capn4 overexpression increased the protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), vimentin, N-cadherin, and down-regulated E-cadherin in 786-O cells, while Capn4 silencing decreased the protein levels of MMP-2, vimentin, N-cadherin, and up-regulated E-cadherin in Caki-1 cells. Capn4 also promoted cancer metastasis in the in vivo nude mice xenograft model. Our results implicate the functional role of Capn4 in ccRCC invasion and migration, which may contribute to cancer metastasis in ccRCC.