Basal CD146 expression is higher in 786R cells and is further stimulated by sunitinib. (A to E) 786 and 786R cells were treated with 2.5 or 5 µM sunitinib for 48 h. The mRNA levels of CD146 total (A), long (B) and short forms (C) and angiomotin (E) were evaluated by qPCR. Results are represented as the mean of three independent experiments ± SEM. (D) The sCD146 protein in cell supernatants was evaluated by ELISA. (F) 786 cells were treated with sunitinib, in the presence of recombinant sCD146 for 48 h. Cell viability was measured with a XTT assay. Results are represented as the mean of three independent experiments ± SEM. (G) 786 and 786R cells were treated with sunitinib (5 µM), in the presence of 1 µg/mL of irrelevant (CT Ab) or anti-sCD146 (sCD146 Ab) antibodies for 48 h. Cell viability was measured by XTT assays. Results are represented as the mean of three independent experiments ± SEM. * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001.