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. 2017 Jun 30;10(4):661–668. doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2017.06.002

Systematic Analysis of the Expression of the Mitochondrial ATP Synthase (Complex V) Subunits in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Maria Brüggemann *, Arabella Gromes *, Mirjam Poss *, Doris Schmidt *, Niklas Klümper *, Yuri Tolkach †, Dimo Dietrich †,‡, Glen Kristiansen †, Stefan C Müller *, Jörg Ellinger *,⁎
PMCID: PMC5496479  PMID: 28672194

Abstract

Mitochondrial dysfunction is common in cancer and the mitochondrial electron transport chain is often affected in carcinogenesis. To date, little is known about the expression of the ATP synthase subunits in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The NextBio database was used to determine an expression profile of the ATP synthase subunits based on published microarray studies. We observed down-regulation of 23 out of 29 subunits of the ATP synthase. Differential expression was validated exemplarily for 12 genes (ATP5A1, ATP5B, ATPAF1, ATP5C1, ATP5D, ATP5O, ATP5F1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, ATP5G3, ATP5I, ATP5S; screening cohort ccRCC n = 18 and normal renal tissue n = 10) using real-time PCR. Additional eight genes (ATP5A1, ATP5B, ATPAF1, ATP5F1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, ATP5G3, ATP5S) were internally validated within an enlarged cohort (ccRCC n = 74; normal renal tissue n = 36). Furthermore, down-regulation of ATP5A1, ATPAF1, ATP5G1/G2/G3 was confirmed on the protein level using Western Blot and immunohistochemistry. We observed that altered expression of ATPAF1 and ATP5G1/G2/G3 was correlated with overall survival in patients with ccRCC. In conclusion, down-regulation of many ATP Synthase subunits occurs in ccRCC and is the basis for the reduced activity of the mitochondrial electron chain. Alteration of the expression of ATP5A1, ATPAF1, and ATP5G1/G2/G3 is characteristic for ccRCC and may be prognostic for ccRCC patients' outcome.

Introduction

In 2012, renal tumors accounted for approximately 2% to 3% of all new cancer cases in the world, with cases occurring more frequently in developed regions [1]. The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is increasing by 1.5% to 5.9% each year [1]. RCC with the predominant clear cell subtype is the most common renal tumor entity. Despite many efforts, there are no biomarkers available for patients with renal tumors; the identification of a suitable biomarker could aid the clinician in identifying patients needing treatment of a renal tumor.

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in mitochondria because of their role as sensors and executioners of apoptosis [2], [3], [4] and their involvement in carcinogenesis [5], [6]. In 1924, Otto Warburg discovered that tumor cells receive energy from glycolysis rather than the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. He established the hypothesis that faulty mitochondrial functions in tumor cells are major causes of carcinogenesis [7].

Usually, other metabolic pathways such as the mitochondrial electron transport chain are maintained along with the increased aerobic glycolysis [8]. However, some studies showed that, as opposed to other tumor types, most alternative pathways besides increased aerobic glycolysis are down-regulated in clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) [9], [10], [11], [12]. Nevertheless, it is still not completely understood why ccRCC seems to knock down all other ways to earn energy except glycolysis.

The F1F0 ATP synthase represents the fifth complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and contains 29 subunits. It consists of two sub complexes, the membrane-spanning component (F0) and the water-soluble complex (F1). While the larger F1 particle, with its catalytic core, is composed by five different subunits (α, β, γ, δ and ε), the F0 particle embodies three main subunits (a, b and c) and, depending on the species, a various amount of additional ones (humans six: d, e, f, g, F6 and 8) [13].

The aim of this study was to develop a better understanding of the expression of ATP synthase in ccRCC and the determination of potential new ccRCC biomarkers.

Materials and Methods

NextBio Database

The NextBio database (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) was used to review published gene expression profiling studies (n = 17) [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29]. The last database query was performed on 20 August 2015. The retrieval for the comparison of normal renal and ccRCC tissue was restricted to the parameters of human, mRNA and fresh frozen tissue.

Patients

The prospective collection of tissue samples was performed within the framework of the Biobank at the CIO Cologne-Bonn. All patients underwent radical or partial nephrectomy at the Department of Urology at the University Hospital Bonn. Written informed consent for the collection of biomaterials was obtained from all patients and the study was approved by the local ethic committee (vote: 280/12).

The specimens were split for formalin fixation, paraffin embedding and fresh-frozen storage. Before use, the tissues were re-evaluated by an uropathologist and classified according the World Health Organization (WHO) classification from 2009. Fresh-frozen tissues were stored at −80 °C, and used for qPCR (92 ccRCC and 46 normal renal tissues) and Western Blot (corresponding 8 ccRCC and normal renal tissues) experiments. Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues were used for the construction of a tissue microarray with 191 RCC specimens [comprising 141 clear-cells, 29 papillary (pRCC), 10 chromophobe (chRCC) and 11 sarcomatoid (sRCC) RCC], 10 oncocytoma and 30 normal renal tissue samples were used for immunochemistry experiments [30]. The detailed clinical–pathological parameters are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1.

Clinical–Pathological Parameters of the Study Cohorts for PCR

Screening Cohort
 Validation Cohort
ccRCC
 Normal
 ccRCC
 Normal
n = 18 (%) n = 10 (%) n = 74 (%) n = 36 (%)
Sex
 Male 11 (61.1) 6 (60.0) 53 (71.6) 26 (72.2)
 Female 7 (38.8) 4 (40.0) 21 (28.4) 10 (27.7)
Age
 Mean 64.83 66.4 66.5 64.75
 Min–max 43–83 46–89 38–89 43–86
Pathological stage
 pT1 7 (38.8) n.a. 42 (56.8) n.a.
 pT2 2 (11.1) n.a. 7 (9.5) n.a.
 pT3 8 (44.4) n.a. 24 (32.4) n.a.
 pT4 1 (5.5) n.a. 1 (1.4) n.a.
 Vascular invasion 7 (38.8) n.a. 24 (32.4) n.a.
 LN metastasis 0 n.a. 2 (2.7) n.a.
 Distant metastasis 1 (5.5) n.a. 14 (18.9) n.a.
Grading
 Grade 1 1 (5.5) n.a. 9 (12.2) n.a.
 Grade 2 13 (72.2) n.a. 47 (63.5) n.a.
 Grade 3 3 (16.6) n.a. 15 (20.3) n.a.
 Grade 4 1 (5.5) n.a. 3 (4.1) n.a.
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Table 2.

Clinical-Pathological Parameters of the Study Cohorts for Immunohistochemistry

ccRCC
 pRCC
 chRCC
 sRCC
 RO
 normal
n = 141 (%) n = 29 (%) n = 10 (%) n = 11 (%) n = 10 (%) n = 30 (%)
Sex
 Male 88 (62.4) 26 (89.6) 6 (60.0) 7 (63.6) 0 21 (70.0)
 Female 53 (37.6) 3 (10.3) 4 (40.0) 3 (27.3) 10 (100) 9 (30.0)
Age
 Mean 62,11 61,45 63,2 62,1 57,6 57,93
 Min–max 26–85 35–82 27–85 51–75 26–73 28–80
Pathological stage
 pT1 59 (41.8) 19 (65.5) 6 (60.0) 0 n.a. n.a.
 pT2 31 (22.0) 5 (17.2) 4 (40.0) 1 (9.1) n.a. n.a.
 pT3 49 (34.8) 5 (17.2) 0 8 (72.7) n.a. n.a.
 pT4 2 (1.4) 0 0 1 (9.1) n.a. n.a.
 Vascular invasion 43 (30.5) 0 0 8 (72.7) n.a. n.a.
 LN metastasis 8 (5.7) 1 (3.4) 0 5 (45.5) n.a. n.a.
 Distant metastasis 18 (12.8) 3 (10.3) 0 6 (54.5) n.a. n.a.
Grading
 Grade 1 44 (31.2) 11 (37.9) 3 (30.0) 0 n.a. n.a.
 Grade 2 94 (66.7) 16 (55.1) 7 (70.0) 1 (9.1) n.a. n.a.
 Grade 3 3 (2.1) 2 (6.9) 0 7 (63.6) n.a. n.a.
 Grade 4 0 0 0 2 (18.2) n.a. n.a.
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RO, renal oncocytoma; LN, Lymph node; n.a., not applicable.

Quantitative Real-Time PCR

RNA isolation was performed as described before [31]. In brief, total RNA was isolated with the mirVana miRNA Isolation Kit (Ambion, Foster City, CA, USA) and afterwards treated with DNase (DNA-free Kit, Ambion). RNA quantity was determined using a NanoDrop 2000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific, Wilmington, DE, USA). RNA integrity was confirmed by evaluation of the 28S and 18S rRNA bands in a gel electrophoresis.

The expression of 12 differentially expressed genes (ATP5A1, ATP5B, ATPAF1, ATP5C1, ATP5D, ATP5O, ATP5F1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, ATP5G3, ATP5I, ATP5S) was investigated in a screening cohort of 18 ccRCC and 10 normal renal tissue samples. Subsequently, the eight most down-regulated genes (ATP5A1, ATP5B, ATPAF1, ATP5F1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, ATP5G3, ATP5S) were analyzed in a validation cohort (74 ccRCC and 36 normal renal tissues). cDNA was synthesized from 1 μg total RNA using the PrimeScript RT Reagent Kit with gDNA Eraser (Takara Bio, Saint-Germain-en Laye, France). For qPCR, we used 5 ng/μl cDNA templates with the 1× SYBR Premix Ex Taq II and ROX Plus with 10 pmol/μl forward/reverse primer (see Supplementary Table S1). PCR experiments were performed on an ABIPrism 7900 HT Fast Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Data analysis was accomplished using QBase + (Biogazelle) with PPIA and ACTB [32], [33], earlier shown to be suitable reference genes, in the 2-ΔΔCT algorithm.

Western Blot

In order to validate gene expression at the protein level, we performed Western blot analyses for ATP5A1, ATPAF1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2 and ATP5G3; the experimental procedure was performed as described earlier [34]: Corresponding fresh-frozen tissues (50 mg ccRCC and normal renal tissue) from 8 patients (4× UICC stage I; 4× stage III) were homogenized in a Precellys 24 (Peqlab, Erlangen, Germany) with 400 μl Cell lysis Buffer (Cell Signaling, Cambridge, United Kingdom) including Complete Mini EDTA-free protease inhibitor (Roche, Basel, Switzerland). The protein concentration was determined (BCA Protein Assay Kit, Pierce Biotechnology, Rockford, IL, USA), 30 ng protein per well loaded into a NuPAGE 4–12% denaturating PAA Gel (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA) and separated in a XCell4 SureLock electrophoresis system (Life Technologies). As molecular weight marker a biotinylated protein ladder (Cell Signaling Technology, Cambridge, UK) and PageRuler Prestained (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) was used. The specimens were transmitted on 0.2 μm nitrocellulose (XCell II, Life Technologies) and the proteins were blocked by 5% milk powder (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). Subsequently, immunostaining was performed with antibodies against ATP5A1 1:1000 (#ab14748, Abcam, Cambridge, UK), ATPAF1 1:1000 (#HPA044950, Sigma-Aldrich, Munich, Germany), a combined antibody against ATP5G1, ATP5G2 and ATP5G3 1:5000 (#ab180149, Abcam), GAPDH (#2118, Cell Signaling Technology), and beta-actin (#A5316, Sigma-Aldrich). The detection was carried out with horseradish peroxidase conjugated to secondary antibodies (anti-rabbit-POD, #170–6515, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Munich, Germany; anti-mouse-POD, #170–6516, Bio-Rad; anti-biotin-POD, #7075, Cell Signaling Technology). The chemiluminescent signal was visualized using SuperSignal West Femto Kit (Thermo Scientific) and recorded by the LAS 3000 Image Reader (Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan).

Immunohistochemistry

A tissue microarray was used to determine the expression of ATP5A1, ATPAF1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, and ATP5G3 in RCC and benign renal tissue specimens. Paraffin sections were cut at 5 μm thickness, deparaffinized using xylene and rehydrated in graded ethanol. Slides were placed in citrate buffer (pH 6.0) for ATP5A1 and ATPAF1 and Tris/EDTA buffer (pH 9.0) for ATP5G1/G2/G3 and heated for 10 min at boiling temperature (microwave 600 W). After 30 min resting time and 15 min for cooling, the endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked with 3% hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes. The sections were washed with Tris-buffered saline and Tween 20 (Fa. Merck 8.22184). The primary antibodies diluted with Antibody diluent (Fa. Dako No. S3022) (anti-ATP5A1, dilution 1:1000; anti-ATPAF1, dilution 1:50; anti-ATP5G1/G2/G3, dilution 1:100) were applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. The slides were incubated at 4 °C overnight and signal detection was performed with Dako Envision + System-HRP Labeled Polymer (Dako, Hamburg, Germany) with secondary antibodies against rabbit and mouse. Finally, the slides were counterstained using hematoxylin and Bluing Reagent, dehydrated and mounted.

The staining was evaluated by three investigators and, in the case of disagreement, the scoring was discussed at a multi-headed microscope. The staining intensities were scored from 0 to 3, 0 being no staining to 3 being maximum staining. The expression of the target proteins was recorded for the sub-compartments (proximal/distal tubules, collecting duct, loop of Henle) in the normal tissues.

Statistical Analyses

The Mann–Whitney U test was used to correlate clinicopathological parameters and gene expression levels. Cox regression analyses and Kaplan Meier estimates were applied to correlate patient survival and gene expression. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS Statistics v21 (IBM, Ehningen, Germany).

Results

Identification of Deregulated Subunits of Complex V

Using the NextBio database, we identified 16 microarray studies comparing the expression of normal and ccRCC tissue. Among the 29 analyzed subunits of the ATP synthase, 23 were significantly dysregulated in at least one microarray study: 21 were down- and 2 were up-regulated in ccRCC (see Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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The expression profile of 29 subunits of the ATP synthase (complex V) was retrieved from NextBio database: 12 genes (ATP5A1, ATP5B, ATPAF1, ATP5C1, ATP5D, ATP5O, ATP5F1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, ATP5G3, ATP5I, and ATP5S) had distinct expression differences of normal and clear cell renal cell carcinoma tissue in several microarray gene expression studies.

Validation of Gene Expression Profiling

Among the potentially dysregulated genes, we chose 12 ATP synthase subunits (ATP5A1, ATP5B, ATPAF1, ATP5C1, ATP5D, ATP5O, ATP5F1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, ATP5G3, ATP5I, ATP5S) for validation within a cohort of ccRCC (n = 18) and normal (n = 10) renal tissue samples using qPCR. As expected, all studied mRNAs were expressed at lower levels in ccRCC compared to normal renal tissue (P ≤ .001; see Table 3 and Supplementary Figure S1).

Table 3.

Summary of Differentially Expressed mRNA in the Screening and Validation Cohort of Real-Time PCR

Samples Screening Cohort
 Validation Cohort
Fold Change Fold Change
ATP5A1 −3.31 −3.65
ATP5B −3.04 −2.37
ATPAF1 −2.91 −2.80
ATP5C1 −1.81 n.d.
ATP5D −2.12 n.d.
ATP5O −1.98 n.d.
ATP5F1 −1.93 −1.62
ATP5G1 −8.09 −5.88
ATP5G2 −2.69 −2.11
ATP5G3 −3.10 −2.37
ATP5I −1.72 n.d.
ATP5S −1.95 −1.67
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n.d., not determined.

In order to provide a substantiated validation, we further investigated 8 genes (ATP5A1, ATP5B, ATPAF1, ATP5F1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, ATP5G3, ATP5S) in an enlarged independent cohort of 74 ccRCC and 36 normal renal tissues. Consistent with the microarray and qPCR expression results, we confirmed significant down-regulation of all Complex V subunits in ccRCC tissue (all P < .001; see Table 3 and Supplementary Figure S2).

ATP5S expression was correlated with presence of metastases (P = .013). There was no other correlation of mRNA expression levels with clinical-pathological parameters (i.e. pT-stage, metastasis or grading; all P > .05). ATP5G2 expression was correlated with overall survival following nephrectomy (log rank P = .024; see Supplementary Figure S3).

Western Blot: Validation on Protein Level

In order to confirm the findings on the protein level, we performed a Western blot for ATP5A1, ATPAF1, ATP5G1/G2/G3 with 8 corresponding normal renal and ccRCC tissues. Consistent with the mRNA expression studies, all studied proteins were down-regulated in ccRCC. The blots are summarized in Figure 2, and whole blot images are provided in Supplementary Figure S4.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Western blot experiments were performed to determine the protein expression in 8 corresponding normal (N) and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (T) tissues (#1–#4 UICC grade 1; #5–#8 UICC grade 3). All protein levels were decreased in tumor compared to normal renal tissue.

Immunohistochemistry: Expression in RCC and Normal Renal Tissue

We next performed immunohistochemistry with a tissue microarray including ccRCC (n = 141), pRCC (n = 29), chRCC (n = 10), sRCC (n = 11), oncocytoma (n = 10) as well as normal renal tissues (n = 30). A representative staining of ATP5A1, ATPAF1, and ATP5G1/G2/G3 is shown in Supplementary Figure S5. Consistent with the western blot analysis, we observed decreased expression of ATP5A1, ATPAF1, and ATP5G1/G2/G3 in the cytoplasm of ccRCC compared to normal renal tissue (P < .001; see Figure 3). The more detailed analysis of normal tissue indicated that all proteins were expressed at a low level in the Loop of Henle and the collecting duct, whereas its expression was higher in the proximal and distal tubules. Interestingly, ATPAF1 also showed a membrane staining which was also decreased in ccRCC compared to normal renal tissue. ATPAF1 membrane staining was more intense than cytoplasmic staining in normal tissue. The comparison of ccRCC with other RCC subtypes showed that ATP5A1, and ATP5G1/G2/G3 expression was increased in pRCC (P < .001 and P = .002) and chRCC (both P < .001) compared to ccRCC. Furthermore, the expression of ATP5A1 (P = .001) and ATP5G1/G2/G3 (P = .008) as well as cytoplasmic ATPAF1 (P < .001) was higher in oncocytoma than in ccRCC tissue.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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(A) The expression of ATP5A1, ATP5G1/G2/G3 and ATPAF1 was determined using immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray which included clear cell (ccRCC), papillary (pRCC) and sarcomatoid (sRCC) renal cell carcinoma as well as oncocytoma (ONC) and normal renal (proximal tubules, PT; distal tubules, DT; loop of Henle, LoH; collecting duct, CD) tissue. ccRCC tissues were characterized by lower levels of ATP5A1, ATP5G1/G2/G3, and ATPAF1 compared to other RCC subtypes and normal renal tissue. (B) Kaplan Meier estimates demonstrated significant shorter overall survival in ccRCC patients with high levels of ATPAF1 and ATP5G1/G2/G3.

We did not observe a correlation between the investigated proteins and clinical parameters (i.e. pT-stage, metastasis, grading; all >0.15) in patients with ccRCC. Follow-up information was available for 86 patients. Kaplan Meier estimates revealed a correlation of ATPAF1 (cytoplasmic and membrane staining) and ATP5G1/G2/G3 expression and overall survival of ccRCC patients (log rank P < .05; see Figure 3). The univariate Cox regression analysis also showed that an increased immunostaining of ATPAF1 and ATP5G1/G2/G3 was correlated with poor overall survival in a subset of 86 patients with available follow-up data (ATPAF1 cytoplasm: P = .036, hazard ratio (HR) = 2.23, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.06–4.74; ATPAF1 membrane: P = .039, HR = 2.85, 95% CI 1.05–7.72; ATP5G1/G2/G3: P = .032, HR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.07–5.07). The prognostic value was lost in the multivariate model including TNM-stage and grading, but it should be noted that the number of cases (n = 86) limits the statistical power, and that the number of few patients with lymph node metastasis (n = 6; univariate analysis HR 10.22) limits the meaning of a multivariate analysis. See Table 4.

Table 4.

Uni- and Multivariate Cox Regression Analysis for the Prediction of Overall Survival in Patients with Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Univariate Analysis
 Multivariate Analysis
P value HR (95% CI) P value HR (95% CI)
pT-stage 0.432 1.19 (0.77–1.85)
LN-metastasis <0.001 10.22 (3.53–29.58) 0.001 7.59 (2.31–24.98)
Distant metastasis 0.129 1.28 (0.93–1.75)
Grading 0.005 3.81 (1.51–9.66) 0.051 3.82 (0.99–6.88)
ATPAF1 cytoplasm 0.036 2.23 (1.06–4.74) 0.595 1.29 (0.50–3.29)
ATPAF1 membrane 0.039 2.85 (1.05–7.72) 0.751 1.21 (0.37–3.94)
ATP5G1/G2/G3 0.032 2.38 (1.07–5.07) 0.238 1.78 (0.67–4.29)
ATP5A1 0.143 1.75 (0.83–3.69)
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HR, hazard ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval.

Discussion

Renal cell carcinoma is termed as metabolic disease that is characterized by: dysregulation of metabolic pathways involved in oxygen sensing (VHL/HIF pathway alterations); energy sensing (Warburg shift augmented lipogenesis; and reduced AMPK and Krebs cycle activity) and/or nutrient sensing cascade (deregulation of AMPK-TSC1/2-mTOR and PI3K-Akt–mTOR pathways) [35]. Otto Warburg has already described that cancer cells unlike normal cells metabolize glucose mostly via glycolysis even in the presence of sufficient oxygen [36]. It is assumed that impaired VHL function is the initiating genetic event for many of the dysregulated pathways in ccRCC [29]. In brief, the VHL protein binds under conditions of normal oxygen tension to the hypoxia-inducible factor subunit α (HIF-α) and directs it to proteosomal degradation. Thus, in the absence of functional VHL, even under normoxic conditions, HIF-alpha is not degraded and translocates to the nucleus to form a dimer with HIF-β to generate HIF-1. HIF-1, as a transcription factor, is involved in the regulation of many biological processes such as glucose uptake and energy metabolism, angiogenesis, erythropoiesis, cell proliferation and apoptosis, cell–cell and cell-matrix interactions, and barrier function [37], [38]. In RCC, the increased levels of HIF and its target gene activation accounts for much of its unique attributes such as ADRP, neutral lipid accumulation and clear cell histology; VEGF and other angiokines, vascularity; erythropoietin, paraneoplastic polycythemia [39].

So far, little information is available about the detailed expression of the subunits of the electron transport chain proteins. We earlier demonstrated down-regulation of UQCRC1, UQCRFS1, NDUFS1 and NDUFA4 [34], [40], [41] and up-regulation of its paralogue NDUFA4L2 [42]. We subsequently reviewed the expression profile of the mitochondrial ATP synthase (Complex V) subunits in ccRCC by retrieval of published microarray expression profiling studies. 80% of the 29 subunits showed dysregulation (mostly down-regulation) in at least one microarray study, and several genes were dysregulated in several studies. We were able to validate the former microarray gene expression profiling studies on the mRNA (ATP5A1, ATP5B, ATPAF1, ATP5C1, ATP5D, ATP5O, ATP5F1, ATP5G1, ATP5G2, ATP5G3, ATP5I, ATP5S) and protein (ATP5A1, ATPAF1, ATP5G1/G2/G3) level. These findings support the idea that the activity of the mitochondrial electron chain is reduced by down-regulation of its members, and that this leads to reduced oxidative phosphorylation.

Biomarkers are available for many malignancies, but unfortunately this is not the case for RCC. Our study revealed several - so far unknown biomarker candidates - in ccRCC: among the in detail validated ATP-synthase subunits, we observed 6-fold down-regulation of ATP5G1 on the mRNA level, and also the ATP5G1/G2/G3 protein was highly down-regulated in ccRCC tissue. It should be noted that the antibody for ATP5G1 was not highly specific and ATP5G2 and ATP5G3 subunits are also recognized according to the manufacturer's information, but a more specific antibody was not available for immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing dysregulation of ATP5G1 in cancer. Earlier studies demonstrated that siRNA knockdown of ATP5G1 resulted in reduced ATP levels as a consequence of reduced oxidative phosphorylation activity, and increased the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [43].

We also highlighted a role for ATP5A1 in the pathogenesis of ccRCC: its mRNA was down-regulated 3.5-fold in ccRCC compared to normal renal tissue, and also protein levels were significantly decreased in ccRCC tissue. The subunit ATP5A1 was linked to cancer by other researchers: ATP5A1 expression facilitated the development of colorectal tumors with microsatellite instability [44], and its expression was up-regulated in glioblastoma and endothelial cells of tumor microenvironment [45].

Another distinctly down-regulated gene in ccRCC was ATPAF1. Interestingly, ATPAF1 was not only detected in the cytoplasm of normal renal tissue, but we also observed regular immunohistochemical membrane staining of the proximal tubules. The relevance of ATPAF1 localization remains unknown. The functional consequence of altered ATPAF1 expression remains largely unknown, but it was shown that RNAi-mediated knockdown of ATPAF1 reduces cell growth of prostate cancer cells in androgen-deficient conditions [46].

This study enhanced our understanding of the dysregulation in RCC. Specific genes involved in the tumor-forced glycolysis may represent potential therapeutic targets of agents that specifically interact with the key factors of tumor phenotype. Furthermore our findings could serve as a basis for future studies in search for biomarkers in RCC. To substantiate our findings further analysis like reactive-oxygen-species analysis (ROS) or extracellular flux analysis (ECAR) in vitro are warranted to demonstrate the functional relevance of altered expression of the complex V subunits.

The following are the supplementary data related to this article.

Supplementary material. (Supplementary Table S1; Supplementary Figures S1-S4).

mmc1.pdf (8.4MB, pdf)

Funding Source

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Acknowledgements

The tissue samples were collected within the framework of the Biobank of the Center for Integrated Oncology Cologne Bonn at the University Hospital Bonn.

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Supplementary Materials

Supplementary material. (Supplementary Table S1; Supplementary Figures S1-S4).

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