Overexpression of IGFBP3 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of renal cancer cells and promotes apoptosis

Objective To investigate the effects of overexpression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) gene on the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities and apoptosis of renal cancer cells. Methods Renal cancer cell lines ACHN and 786-O were divided into a control group (transfected with pSectag-A blank plasmid) and an IGFBP3 group (transfected with pSectag-IGFBP3 plasmid). Western blot was used to detect the expression of IGFBP3 protein in the supernatant of the cells. Then, 48 h after transfection, MTT and flow cytometry were adopted to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. The wound healing assay was used to determine cell migration ability. Transwell assay was used to detect cell invasion ability. Results Transfection with pSectag-IGFBP3 plasmid significantly increased the level of IGFBP3 protein in ACHN and 786-O cells. After overexpression of IGFBP3 gene, compared with the control group, the IGFBP3 group presented weakened proliferation abilities, with an increased apoptotic rate (P<0.05). Furthermore, the IGFBP3 group also showed remarkably reduced proliferation and invasion abilities (P<0.05). Conclusions IGFBP3 overexpression can inhibit the abilities of proliferation and invasion of renal cancer cells and promote apoptosis.