Targeting the testis-specific heat-shock protein 70-2 (HSP70-2) reduces cellular growth, migration, and invasion in renal cell carcinoma cells

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents one of the most resistant tumors to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Current therapies for the RCC patients are limited owing to lack of diagnosis and therapeutic treatments. Testis-specific heat-shock protein 70-2 (HSP70-2), a member of HSP70 chaperone family, has been shown to be associated with various cancers. In the present study, we investigated the putative role of HSP70-2 in various malignant properties of the RCC cells. HSP70-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression was investigated in A704, ACHN, and Caki-1 cells derived from the RCC patients. We assessed the expression of HSP70-2 gene and protein by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. The expression of HSP70-2 protein was further validated by performing indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and flow cytometry. The malignant properties of high-grade invasive A704 and Caki-1 cells, such as cellular proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and wound healing, were evaluated by silencing the expression of HSP70-2 gene in these cells. Statistical significance was defined using Student’s t test. Our RT-PCR and Western blotting data showed the expression of HSP70-2 in all RCC cells. Our results showed that HSP70-2 was predominantly expressed in cytoplasm and found to be colocalized with endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi body, and plasma membrane but not the nuclear envelope. Knockdown of HSP70-2 expression with specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA) demonstrated significant reduction in cell growth and colony formation. Further, a marked reduction in cell migration and invasion was also observed, indicating the potential role of HSP70-2 in metastasis. Collectively, our data suggest that HSP70-2 plays a key role in cancerous growth and invasive potential of RCC cells. Thus, HSP70-2 could serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for the RCC.