IMP-1 inhibits renal cell carcinoma 786-O cell growth by targeting EphrinB2 signaling pathway

EphrinB2 plays a critical role in tumor growth. In this study, we studied the antitumor activity of imperatorin derivative IMP-1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by regulating EphrinB2 pathway.. Results showed that IMP-1 inhibited the proliferation of 786-O cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. More importantly, knockdown and transfection of EphrinB2 altered the inhibitory effect of IMP-1 on the activity of 786-O cells. IMP-1 arrested 786-O cell cycle at G0/G1 phase by decreasing the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E. Moreover, IMP-1 regulated Bcl-2 family proteins’ expression, thus inducing apoptosis of 786-O cells. IMP-1 down-regulated the expression of EphrinB2, Syntenin1 and PICK1. Then, IMP-1 decreased the phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and AKT. In all, IMP-1 could regulate the EphrinB2 pathway in order to inhibit 786-O cell growth by arresting the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and inducing cell apoptosis. Thus, IMP-1 may present as a potential strategy for RCC treatment.