Expression and effect of pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha 1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

  Background  As one of the metabolic characteristics of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is aerobic glycolysis, it is of great significance to explore the influence of key proteins in glucose metabolism on ccRCC.

  Objective  To study the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha 1 (PDHA1) in ccRCC and its influence on the prognosis of ccRCC, as well as the effect of PDHA1 on the growth, proliferation and migration of ccRCC 786-O cell line in vitro.

  Methods  Using the data from TCGA database, the expression levels of PDHA1 mRNA in ccRCC and adjacent tissues were analyzed. PDHA1 mRNA levels were compared according to the tumor stage, grade and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the relationship between PDHA1 expression and tumor prognosis. The function of PDHA1 in ccRCC was explored by gene enrichment analysis. In vitro, the expression of PDHA1 after transfection was verified by western blot. The effects of PDHA1 on the growth, proliferation and migration of 786-O cells were respectively determined by CCK-8, colony formation and wound healing assay.

  Results  According to TCGA database, PDHA1 mRNA levels significantly decreased in RCCC tissues compared with adjacent tissues. PDHA1 mRNA levels were also related to tumor stage and grade. The high expression group of PDHA1 had longer disease free survival and overall survival. The results in vitro showed that the proliferation, clonogenesis and migration of 786-O cells decreased significantly in PDHA1 overexpression group compared with empty vector group.

  Conclusion  The expression of PDHA1 mRNA is positively correlated with the prognosis of patients with ccRCC, and PDHA1 plays an important role in inhibiting the growth, proliferation and migration of ccRCC cells.