Ephb4 Knockdown Suppresses Renal Cancer Cells Growth And Inhibits The Activity Of Erk And Stat3 In Vitro And In Vivo

Objective: Erythropoietin producing human hepatoma (EphB4) promotes cell viability, contributes to migration, invasion and angiogenesis in cancers of many origins. In this study, we investigated the impact of EphB4 on the oncogenic potential of renal cell tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Methods: We examined the impact of EphB4 knockdown on cell proliferation and cell death using CCK-8 and annexin V-FITC/PI staining assays, respectively. The effect of Eph4 knockdown on cell invasion and migration was determined using Boyden chamber assay and wound healing assay. To investigate the downstream consequences of Eph4 knockdown, the activities of ERK and STAT3 were examined. Furthermore, the effect of EphB4 knockdown in vivo was investigated using xenograft tumor model in nude mice. Results: EphB4 downregulation suppresses growth, invasion and migration of renal cancer cells and promotes cell apoptosis. EphB4 knockdown also decreases the levels of p-ERK and p-STAT3. In vivo, EphB4 knockdown significantly suppresses tumor growth and decreases the levels of p-ERK and p-STAT3 in xenografts tumor. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that EphB4 knockdown efficiently inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human renal cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.