Chaperon‑mediated autophagy can promote proliferation and invasion of renal carcinoma cells and inhibit apoptosis through PKM2

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of chaperon‑mediated autophagy (CMA) through pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) on the development of renal carcinoma (RCC) and its possible mechanisms. Lysosome‑associated membrane protein 2A (LAMP‑2A) and PKM2 expression levels were detected by collecting tissue samples from RCC patients. RNA interference was used to silence the LAMP‑2A and PKM2 expression levels in renal cell line A498 to detect the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of cells. The levels of mRNA and protein of related genes were also examined. Co‑immunoprecipitation was used to detect the interaction between PKM2 and heat shock cognate 70 (HSC70). The results revealed that LAMP‑2A and PKM2 expression levels were significantly increased in RCC tissues and cell lines (P<0.01). LAMP‑2A silencing increased the expression level of PKM2 in A498 and 786‑O cells. LAMP‑2A and PKM2 silencing suppressed the proliferation and invasion and induced the apoptosis of A498 cells, and also affected the expression levels of related genes. Co‑immunoprecipitation revealed the interaction between PKM2 and HSC70. In conclusion, CMA could affect the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of RCC cells through PKM2, and our findings provided new biomarkers and targets for molecular targeted therapy of RCC.