BACKGROUND: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a disease typified by anomalies in cell metabolism. The function of mitochondria, including subunits of mitochondrial respiratory complex II (CII), in particular SDHB, are often affected. Here we investigated the state and function of CII in RCC patients. METHODS: We evaluated tumour tissue as well as the adjacent healthy kidney tissue of 78 patients with RCC of different histotypes, focusing on their mitochondrial function. As clear cell RCC (ccRCC) is by far the most frequent histotype of RCC, we focused on these patients, which were grouped based on the pathological WHO/ISUP grading system to low- and high-grade patients, indicative of prognosis. We also evaluated mitochondrial function in organoids derived from tumour tissue of 7 patients. RESULTS: ccRCC tumours were characterized by mutated von Hippel-Lindau gene and high expression of carbonic anhydrase IX. We found low levels of mitochondrial DNA, protein and function, together with CII function in ccRCC tumour tissue, but not in other RCC types and non-tumour tissues. Mitochondrial content increased in high-grade tumours, while the function of CII remained low. Tumour organoids from ccRCC patients recapitulated molecular characteristics of RCC tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the state of CII, epitomized by its assembly and SDHB levels, deteriorates with the progressive severity of ccRCC. These observations hold the potential for stratification of patients with worse prognosis and may guide the exploration of targeted therapeutic interventions.
- MeSH
- Antigens, Neoplasm MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Carbonic Anhydrase IX metabolism genetics MeSH
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell * pathology metabolism genetics MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- DNA, Mitochondrial genetics metabolism MeSH
- Mitochondria * metabolism pathology genetics MeSH
- Mutation MeSH
- Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein genetics metabolism MeSH
- Kidney Neoplasms * pathology metabolism genetics MeSH
- Electron Transport Complex II * metabolism genetics MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Succinate Dehydrogenase genetics metabolism MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive disease with grim prognosis due to lack of effective treatment options. Disease prediction in association with early diagnosis may both contribute to improved MPM survival. Inflammation and autophagy are two processes associated with asbestos-induced transformation. We evaluated the level of two autophagic factors ATG5 and HMGB1, microRNAs (miRNAs) such as miR-126 and miR-222, and the specific biomarker of MPM, soluble mesothelin related proteins (Mesothelin) in asbestos-exposed individuals, MPM patients, and healthy subjects. The performance of these markers in detecting MPM was investigated in pre-diagnostic samples of asbestos-subjects who developed MPM during the follow-up and compared for the three groups. RESULTS: The ATG5 best distinguished the asbestos-exposed subjects with and without MPM, while miR-126 and Mesothelin were found as a significant prognostic biomarker for MPM. ATG5 has been identified as an asbestos-related biomarker that can help to detect MPM with high sensitivity and specificity in pre-diagnostic samples for up to two years before diagnosis. To utilize this approach practically, higher number of cases has to be tested in order to give the combination of the two markers sufficient statistical power. Performance of the biomarkers should be confirmed by testing their combination in an independent cohort with pre-diagnostic samples.
- MeSH
- Autophagy-Related Protein 5 MeSH
- Asbestos * adverse effects MeSH
- Early Diagnosis MeSH
- GPI-Linked Proteins adverse effects MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Mesothelioma, Malignant * MeSH
- Mesothelin MeSH
- Mesothelioma * diagnosis MeSH
- MicroRNAs * MeSH
- Biomarkers, Tumor metabolism MeSH
- Pleural Neoplasms * diagnosis MeSH
- Lung Neoplasms * diagnosis MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
