Expression of 12-lipoxygenase in human renal cell carcinoma and growth prevention by its inhibitor

The metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) by either the cyclooxygenase (COX) or lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway generates eicosanoids, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases, including cancer, and may play important roles in tumor promotion, progression, and metastasis. The involvement of 12-LOX expression and function in tumor growth and metastasis has been reported in both murine and human tumor cell lines. The expression of 12-LOX in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC), normal kidney (NK) tissues and 3 kinds of RCC cell lines (Caki-1, A498, RC-1), and its effects on cell proliferation in 3 RCC cell lines were examined. Expression of 12-LOX protein was detected by immunohistochemistry and 12-LOX mRNA in RCC cell lines was detected by nested RT-PCR. Effects of 12-LOX inhibitor on RCC cell growth was examined by MTT assay, and to determine whether or not 12-LOX inhibitors induce apoptosis, we used Hoechst staining. While 12-LOX expression was detected slightly in NK tissues, a marked expression of 12-LOX was detected in RCC tissues. All human RCC cell lines expressed 12-LOX mRNA. The 12-LOX inhibitor baicalein caused marked inhibition of all three kinds of RCC cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Cells treated with 12-LOX inhibitor showed chromatin condensation, cellular shrinkage, small membrane-bound bodies (apoptotic bodies), and cytoplasmic condensation. These results suggest 12-LOX may play a role in the progression of RCC in human tissue, and its inhibitors may become anticancer agents in human RCC.