线粒体移植增强人神经胶质瘤U87细胞的辐射敏感性

线粒体移植( mitochondrial transplantation)是从患者正常组织分离线粒体然后注入线粒体损伤或缺失的部位,使损伤细胞获得救治、器官功能得以恢复的全新干预技术。本研究重点探讨线粒体移植对人神经胶质瘤细胞(U87)辐射敏感性的影响。提取人星形胶质细胞(human astrocytes, HA)的线粒体,用荧光探针Mito-Tracker Red进行标记后再与U87细胞共培养,激光共聚焦显微镜观察发现,Mito-Tracker Red的红色荧光大量出现在U87细胞内;随后对进入细胞内的游离线粒体荧光强度进行定量分析,游离线粒体和U87细胞共培养12 h时,单细胞内荧光强度由本底值0.08上升至1.83,表明游离线粒体可以通过共培养方式进入U87细胞内。随后给予U87细胞X射线辐照,Western印迹结果显示,联合组与单独辐照组相比,Cyto-C和Bax的表达量分别由179.5%和198.5%升高至251.72%和256.10%,Bcl-2的表达量由57.17%降低至22.23%;使用Annexin V/PI双染法检测到联合组U87细胞凋亡量相比单独辐照组的3.1%和23.5%上升至19.2%和43.8%;RT-CES检测结果表明,96 h内联合组U87细胞生长曲线被抑制;联合组克隆形成率相对单独辐照组的53%下降至29.3%。鬼笔环肽染色发现,线粒体移植组细胞表面丝状伪足相比对照组明显减少。本研究提示,线粒体移植能够促进辐射诱导的肿瘤细胞凋亡,对U87细胞具有辐射增敏作用,其作用机制与重新激活线粒体凋亡通路、降低肿瘤恶性程度有关。     

模拟微重力对恶性胶质瘤细胞U87 影响的实验研究

目的:探讨模拟微重力(Modeled microgravity,MMG)对恶性胶质瘤细胞U87形态、生长增殖、基质金属蛋白酶-2、-9(Matrix metalloproteinase 2,MMP-2、Matrix metalloproteinase 9,MMP-9)及神经胶质酸性蛋白(Glial fibrillary acidic protein,GFAP)表达的影响。方法:常规培养U87细胞,传代培养3代后分为两组,正常重力组(Normal gravity,NG组)及模拟微重力干预组(Modeled microgravity,MMG组),相应条件下培养24 h,48 h和72 h。倒置显微镜观察U87细胞形态改变,细胞计数法及四甲基偶氮唑盐微量酶反应比色法(3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide,MTT法)检测模拟微重力干预和干预后U87细胞生长增殖情况;Western Blot检测不同培养时间后胶质瘤细胞U87 MMP-2、MMP-9及GFAP蛋白的表达情况。结果:模拟微重力条件下培养72 h后,U87细胞轮廓不规则,边缘圆钝,触角变少;模拟微重力条件下,U87细胞生长速度明显减慢,并且经模拟微重力干预48 h和72 h后的胶质瘤细胞经传代再培养,其增殖率也明显低于正常重力组;同时,U87细胞MMP-2及MMP-9蛋白表达水平与模拟微重力处理时间呈时间依赖性下降,而GFAP蛋白表达水平则呈时间依赖性升高。结论:模拟微重力影响U87细胞的形态、生长及表型。     

β榄香烯对人脑胶质瘤SHG44细胞增殖及凋亡的影响

目的:探讨中药提取物β-榄香烯对胶质瘤SHG44细胞增殖抑制作用及对Bax和Bcl-2蛋白表达的影响,并进一步探讨发生的机制。方法:用不同浓度的β-榄香烯对体外培养的SHG44细胞进行干预,分别采用MTT、流式细胞仪检测法,观察β-榄香烯对SHG44细胞增殖的抑制和凋亡诱导作用,并通过Western blot检测凋亡相关蛋白Bax与Bcl-2蛋白表达情况。结果:经β-榄香烯处理SHG44细胞后,MTT结果其发现SHG44细胞生长受药物浓度和时间的影响,细胞生长明显被抑制,且(P0.05),流式细胞术显示,β-榄香烯诱导SHG44细胞后,细胞凋亡指数伴随药物作用时间的延长凋亡显著增加;Western blot结果发现,β-榄香烯对SHG44细胞的诱导后,使促凋亡蛋白Bax和抑凋亡蛋白Bcl-2与对照组相比发生了显著改变,且实验组Bax蛋白表达明显高于对照组,而抑凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达伴随β-榄香烯的作用时间的增加,表达也逐渐减少。结论:β-榄香烯能显著抑制胶质瘤SHG44细胞的增殖,促进其凋亡;其机制可能与调控Bcl-2和Bax表达有关。     

PER1对人肝癌细胞BEL-7402辐射敏感性的影响

本文通过X射线照射SMMC-7721、BEL-7402和HepG2三种肝癌细胞后,以克隆形成试验检测其存活分数,结果显示在梯度剂量X射线0、2、4、6、8、10 Gy照射下SMMC-7721、BEL-7402、HepG2三种细胞克隆存活分数逐渐下降,其中SMMC-7721在三种肝癌细胞系中对辐射最敏感,BEL-7402辐射抗性在三种肝癌细胞系中最高。Western blot检测发现PER1在SMMC-7721中的表达水平明显显著高于BEL-7402和HepG2(P<0.05)。过表达PER1蛋白以后,BEL-7402接受5 Gy X射线照射后凋亡明显增多,同时,western blot和RT-qPCR试验结果发现,X射线照射过表达PER1的BEL-7402细胞,抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达明显降低,凋亡执行蛋白Caspase-3断裂明显增多。研究结果表明PER1蛋白的高水平表达可以促进X射线诱导的凋亡,增强肝癌细胞的辐射敏感性。     

beta榄香烯对人脑胶质瘤SHG44 细胞增殖及凋亡的影响

目的：探讨中药提取物beta- 榄香烯对胶质瘤SHG44 细胞增殖抑制作用及对Bax 和Bcl-2 蛋白表达的影响,并进一步探讨发 生的机制。方法：用不同浓度的beta-榄香烯对体外培养的SHG44 细胞进行干预,分别采用MTT、流式细胞仪检测法,观察beta-榄香 烯对SHG44细胞增殖的抑制和凋亡诱导作用,并通过Western blot检测凋亡相关蛋白Bax 与Bcl-2 蛋白表达情况。结果：经beta- 榄香烯处理SHG44细胞后,MTT 结果其发现SHG44细胞生长受药物浓度和时间的影响,细胞生长明显被抑制,且（P<0.05）,流 式细胞术显示,茁- 榄香烯诱导SHG44细胞后,细胞凋亡指数伴随药物作用时间的延长凋亡显著增加;Western blot 结果发现,beta- 榄香烯对SHG44 细胞的诱导后,使促凋亡蛋白Bax 和抑凋亡蛋白Bcl-2 与对照组相比发生了显著改变,且实验组Bax 蛋白表达 明显高于对照组,而抑凋亡蛋白Bcl-2 的表达伴随beta- 榄香烯的作用时间的增加,表达也逐渐减少。结论：beta- 榄香烯能显著抑制胶 质瘤SHG44 细胞的增殖,促进其凋亡;其机制可能与调控Bcl-2 和Bax表达有关。     

HCMV感染对胶质瘤细胞U87自噬的影响

研究人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)感染对神经胶质瘤U87细胞自噬的影响。通过观察微管相关蛋白1轻链3(LC3)、自噬相关基因Beclin1及其蛋白表达的变化,从而探讨HCMV与神经胶质瘤发生、发展的关系及意义。用HCMV AD169(MOI=5)感染神经胶质瘤U87细胞,同时将未感染HCMV的U87细胞作为对照组。分别在6、12、24、48 h用RT-PCR检测Beclin1的表达,Western-blot和免疫荧光检测Beclin1和LC3编码蛋白的表达,最后用CCK-8检测细胞的增殖活性。结果显示,HCMV感染的U87细胞LC3-II蛋白表达水平逐渐下降(P<0.05);同时,HCMV感染的U87细胞Beclin1基因及蛋白的表达水平也逐渐下降(P<0.01),且HCMV感染U87细胞增殖显著(P<0.01)。以上结果表明,HCMV感染抑制胶质瘤U87细胞自噬,并会引起Beclin1表达水平下调,进而导致胶质瘤细胞增殖。     

神经胶质瘤细胞ATF5表达水平对HCMV复制的影响

人巨细胞病毒(human cytomegalovirus,HCMV)在神经胶质瘤细胞中的复制水平不一,其机制尚不清楚。本研究通过下调转录激活因子5(ATF5)在神经胶质瘤细胞中的表达,检测HCMV感染神经胶质瘤细胞后病毒复制水平的变化。首先用HCMV AD169(MOI=5)分别感染U87、SY5Y及A172细胞,观察细胞形态变化,分别在24、48、72、96、120 h取各时间点上清液检测病毒滴度;Real-time PCR检测HCMV即刻早期基因(IE2)、早期基因(UL44)、晚期基因(UL99)及ATF5的表达情况;Western-blot检测病毒基因编码蛋白及ATF5表达的情况。结果显示HCMV在U87、SY5Y细胞中复制水平与病毒在A172细胞中复制水平相比,U87、SY5Y细胞组明显高于A172细胞组(P0.05),ATF5表达在U87、SY5Y细胞组与A172细胞组相比,U87、SY5Y细胞组ATF5表达明显高于A172组(P0.05);利用慢病毒介导的RNA干扰技术下调ATF5在U87、SY5Y细胞的表达,用HCMV感染细胞检测病毒基因及蛋白的表达,结果ATF5表达下调可抑制HCMV的复制(P0.05)。以上结果表明,在胶质瘤细胞中下调ATF5表达水平可以抑制HCMV的复制水平。     

环吡酮胺抑制人胶质瘤细胞SHG44生长及其机制研究

该文初步探讨了环吡酮胺(ciclopirox olamine, CPX)抑制人胶质瘤细胞SHG44生长的作用和机制。该研究用梯度浓度的CPX处理人胶质瘤细胞SHG44后,通过MTT实验检测药物半抑制浓度IC50和细胞增殖能力;应用平板克隆实验检测细胞克隆形成能力; Transwell小室和细胞划痕实验检测细胞侵袭和迁移能力;流式细胞术检测细胞内活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)、线粒体内ROS以及细胞凋亡的变化; Seahorse XF96 Flux analysis分析仪检测细胞耗氧率(oxygen consumption rate, OCR);实时荧光定量PCR(q PCR)和Western blot技术检测细胞内m RNA和蛋白的变化。结果表明:SHG44对CPX药物敏感; CPX能使STAT3在m RNA转录水平和蛋白表达水平下降,抑制SHG44的迁移和侵袭,同时,促进线粒体ROS的累积,最终破坏线粒体功能,抑制细胞生长并促进细胞凋亡。该研究结果提示,CPX具有一定的抗胶质瘤细胞SHG44生长的作用,有望成为一种治疗胶质瘤的药物。     

人脐带间充质干细胞对胶质瘤细胞株U87上皮间质转化及皮下荷瘤能力的影响

目的研究人脐带间充质干细胞(hUCMSCs)体外模型中对胶质瘤细胞株U87荷瘤能力及其上皮间质转化(EMT)的影响及其可能机制。方法建立裸鼠皮下荷瘤模型,观察hUCMSCs与U87共培养组和U87单独荷瘤组皮下荷瘤能力的差别,免疫组化检测EMT相关基因组织表达水平,Western Blot检测EMT相关蛋白MMP2,MMP7,MMP9,E-cadherin(E-cad),N-cadherin(N-cad)和Vimentin(VIM)表达情况,q PCR检测EMT相关基因(mmp2,mmp7,mmp9,E-cad,N-cad和vimentin)转录水平。Transwell和Matrigel分别检测hUCMSCs对U87转移能力的影响,两组间比较拟采用独立样本t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析。结果皮下荷瘤结果提示hUCMSCs与U87共培养组皮下荷瘤率高于U87单独荷瘤组,且肿瘤体积较大,RT-PCR结果提示:共培养组和单独培养组相比,E-cad水平下调,N-cad和VIM上调,且基质金属蛋白酶家族MMP2,MMP7,MMP9也有不同程度上调。Western blot结果提示:在蛋白水平共培养组和单独培养组相比,E-cad水平下调2.1倍,N-cad和VIM上调1.0倍,MMP9上调0.9倍;E-cad,N-cad,VIM以及MMP2变化结果与RT-PCR结果一致。免疫组化结果进一步验证hUCMSCs能促进U87表达Ki67,E-cad与N-cad低表达。Transwell和Matrigel实验结果提示hUCMSCs能够促进U87细胞的转移侵袭能力。结论 hUCMSCs能通过促进U87高表达EMT相关基因和增殖相关基因Ki67,从而促进胶质瘤细胞株U87皮下肿瘤形成并发生上皮间质转化,提示hUCMSCs临床应用中应该充分考略受试者是否是潜在胶质瘤患者。     

X射线辐射对仔鼠消化酶活性及胃中Bax和Ghrelin表达的影响

为了探讨X射线辐射对仔鼠胃蛋白酶活性、十二指肠脂肪酶活性及胃中Bax蛋白和Ghrelin表达的影响,对170只仔鼠用不同辐射剂量（0,4,12,20,28 Gy）X射线进行全身辐射,分别在辐射后1,5,10,20 d用比色法检测仔鼠胃蛋白酶活性和十二指肠中脂肪酶活性的变化,用免疫组织化学方法检测胃中Bax蛋白和Ghrelin的表达和分布,并用Image-proplus 5.0专业图像分析软件检测Bax蛋白和Ghrelin在胃中的表达强度。结果表明,X射线辐射影响发育期仔鼠胃蛋白酶和十二指肠脂肪酶的活性以及胃中Bax蛋白和Ghrelin的表达。仔鼠胃蛋白酶活性除在辐射后1 d时高于对照组外,其它辐射后各期均低于对照组,仔鼠十二指肠中脂肪酶活性在辐射后均低于对照组;Bax蛋白主要在仔鼠胃黏膜上皮细胞中表达,其表达水平随辐射剂量的增大而增强;Ghrelin主要在胃内分泌细胞中表达,辐射后其表达水平降低。X射线辐射影响仔鼠消化酶活性,这可能与胃中Bax蛋白和Ghrelin的表达变化有关。     

Shikonin Kills Glioma Cells through Necroptosis Mediated by RIP-1

Background and Purpose

Shikonin was reported to induce necroptosis in leukemia cells, but apoptosis in glioma cell lines. Thus, it is needed to clarify whether shikonin could cause necroptosis in glioma cells and investigate its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Shikonin and rat C6 glioma cell line and Human U87 glioma cell line were used in this study. The cellular viability was assayed by MTT. Flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC and PI double staining was used to analyze cellular death modes. Morphological alterations in C6 glioma cells treated with shikoinin were evaluated by electronic transmission microscopy and fluorescence microscopy with Hoechst 33342 and PI double staining. The level of reactive oxygen species was assessed by using redox-sensitive dye DCFH-DA. The expressional level of necroptosis associated protein RIP-1 was analyzed by western blotting.

Results

Shikonin induced cell death in C6 and U87 glioma cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The cell death in C6 and U87 glioma cells could be inhibited by necroptosis inhibitor necrotatin-1, not by pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. Shikonin treated C6 glioma cells presented electron-lucent cytoplasm, loss of plasma membrane integrity and intact nuclear membrane in morphology. The increased ROS level caused by shikonin was attenuated by necrostatin-1 and blocking ROS by anti-oxidant NAC rescued shikonin-induced cell death in both C6 and U87 glioma cells. Moreover, the expressional level of RIP-1 was up-regulated by shikonin in a dose and time dependent manner as well, but NAC suppressed RIP-1 expression.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that the cell death caused by shikonin in C6 and U87 glioma cells was mainly via necroptosis. Moreover, not only RIP-1 pathway, but also oxidative stress participated in the activation of shikonin induced necroptosis.     

NDRG2对胶质瘤U87-MG细胞组蛋白乙酰化的影响及机制研究

目的:探讨NDRG2对胶质瘤U87-MG细胞组蛋白乙酰化的影响,从代谢组学角度明确其抑癌机制,为胶质瘤治疗提供新思路。方法:利用慢病毒介导的外源性NDRG2基因在胶质瘤U87-MG细胞株中过表达,并采用MTT检测其对胶质瘤U87-MG细胞增殖的影响,采用Western blot技术研究其对胶质瘤U87-MG细胞组蛋白乙酰化及AKT-ACLY通路磷酸化状态的影响,并使用酶联反应检测胞内乙酰辅酶A的水平。结果:NDRG2在胶质瘤U87-MG细胞中外源过表达可降低AKT及下游分子ACLY的磷酸化水平,减少胞内乙酰辅酶A的合成,抑制组蛋白乙酰化。结论:NDRG2可能通过抑制AKT通路,减少组蛋白乙酰化,进而抑制胶质瘤U87-MG细胞增殖。     

Topotecan enhances immune clearance of gliomas

Despite aggressive surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is refractory to therapy, recurs quickly, and results in a median survival time of only 14 months. The modulation of the apoptotic receptor Fas with cytotoxic agents could potentiate the response to therapy. However, Fas ligand (FasL) is not expressed in the brain and therefore this Fas-inducing cell death mechanism cannot be utilized. Vaccination of patients with gliomas has shown promising responses. In animal studies, brain tumors of vaccinated mice were infiltrated with activated T cells. Since activated immune cells express FasL, we hypothesized that combination of immunotherapy with chemotherapy can activate Fas signaling, which could be responsible for a synergistic or additive effect of the combination. When we treated the human glioma cell line U-87 and GBM tumor cells isolated from patients with TPT, Fas was up regulated. Subsequent administration of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) to treated cells significantly increased their cell death indicating that these Fas receptors were functional. Similar effect was observed when CD3⁺ T cells were used as a source of the FasL, indicating that the up regulated Fas expression on glioma cells increases their susceptibility to cytotoxic T cell killing. This additive effect was not observed when glioma cells were pre-treated with temozolomide, which was unable to increase Fas expression in tumor. Inhibition of FasL activity with the antagonistic antibody Nok-1 mitigated these effects confirming that these responses were specifically mediated by the Fas-FasL interaction. Furthermore, the CD3⁺ T cells co-cultured with topotecan treated U-87 and autologous GBM tumor cells showed a significant increase in expression in IFN-γ, a key cytokine produced by activated T cells, and accordingly enhanced tumor cytotoxicity. Based on our data we conclude that drugs, such as topotecan, which cause up regulation of Fas on glioma cells can be potentially exploited with immunotherapy to enhance immune clearance of tumors via Fas signaling. Jun Wei and Guillermo DeAngulo are Co-lead authors.     

LncRNA MYU对胶质瘤细胞周期分布、增殖、转移和凋亡以及PI3K/Akt信号通路的影响

摘要 目的：探讨长链非编码RNA（LncRNA）MYU对胶质瘤细胞周期分布、细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭和凋亡的影响,并初步探讨其作用机制。方法：实时荧光定量PCR（RT-qPCR）检测人脑正常胶质细胞HEB和胶质瘤细胞（U-251MG、A172、SHG139）中LncRNA MYU的表达情况。选取SHG139细胞,分为正常对照（NC）组、si-con组、si-LncRNA MYU组进行转染实验,行RT-qPCR检测转染效果。分别采用流式细胞术、细胞计数试剂盒（CCK-8）、Transwell实验检测沉默LncRNA MYU对SHG139细胞周期分布和凋亡、细胞增殖、细胞迁移和侵袭的影响。蛋白免疫印迹（Western blot）法检测基质金属蛋白酶2（MMP-2）、MMP-9、裂解的半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3（Cleaved caspase-3）、Cleaved caspase-9以及磷脂酰肌醇-3-羟激酶/蛋白激酶B（PI3K/Akt）信号通路相关蛋白表达情况。结果：LncRNA MYU在胶质瘤细胞株中比人脑正常胶质细胞中的表达水平显著升高（P＜0.05）,因此选择表达量最高的SHG139细胞进行转染实验。沉默LncRNA MYU能够显著诱导SHG139细胞G0-G1期阻滞、抑制细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭并诱导细胞凋亡（P＜0.05）。沉默LncRNA MYU可显著抑制MMP-2、MMP-9、p-PI3K和p-AKT表达并促进Cleaved caspase-3、Cleaved caspase-9表达（P＜0.05）。结论：沉默LncRNA MYU可诱导胶质瘤细胞G0-G1期阻滞,抑制细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭,促进细胞凋亡,其机制可能与抑制PI3K/AKT信号通路有关。     

Suppression of FAM83D Inhibits Glioma Proliferation,Invasion and Migration by Regulating the AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which the family with sequence similarity 83, member D (FAM83D)-mediated AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activation affects the proliferation and metastasis of glioma cells.MethodsFAM83D protein expression in glioma cells and tissues was detected by western blotting. Glioma U87 and U251 cells were selected and divided into the Mock, siNC, siFAM83D, FAM83D, MK2206 and FAM83D + MK2206 groups. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and clone formation assays, while invasion and migration were evaluated by Transwell assays and wound healing tests. The protein expression of members of the AKT/mTOR pathway was determined via western blotting. Xenograft models were also established in nude mice to observe the in vivo effect of FAM83D on the growth of glioma.ResultsFAM83D was upregulated in glioma patients, especially in those with Stage III-IV. In addition, cells treated with siFAM83D had significant downregulation of p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR, with decreased proliferation and colony numbers, as well as decreased invasion and migration compared to the Mock group. However, FAM83D overexpression could activate the Akt/mTOR pathway and promote the proliferation, invasion and migration of glioma cells. Moreover, treatment with MK2206, an inhibitor of AKT, reversed the promoting effect of FAM83D on the growth of glioma cells. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that silencing FAM83D could inhibit the in vivo growth of glioma cellsConclusionFAM83D was upregulated in glioma and silencing FAM83D suppressed the proliferation, invasion and migration of glioma cells via inhibition of the AKT/mTOR pathway.     

miR-613通过靶向VEGFA抑制神经胶质瘤细胞的增殖、侵袭和血管生成

摘要 目的：旨在探究miR-613在胶质瘤中的表达及对细胞增殖、侵袭和血管生成的影响。方法：根据细胞转染将实验分组为对照miRNA组（Control组）、miR-613模拟物组（mimics组）和miR-613 mimics+VEGFA组（VEGFA组）。采用逆转录定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）检测胶质瘤细胞和组织中miR-613和VEGFA mRNA的表达水平;采用荧光素酶报告基因分析miR-613与血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的关系;采用Western blotting检测VEGFA蛋白的表达水平;通过体外实验检测转染细胞的增殖能力、侵袭能力和管状形成能力。结果：与正常组织样本相比,胶质瘤I-II期组样本的肿瘤细胞呈现异形,具有深核染色,并且肿瘤细胞密度适度较低,而胶质瘤III-IV期组样本的肿瘤细胞的核分裂活跃,具有明显的微血管增殖和明显的细胞异型性;miR-613在胶质瘤I-IV期组织样本中显著降低（P<0.05）。在U87和U251细胞系的VEGFA-WT组中,与Control组相比,mimics组的荧光素酶活性显著降低（P<0.05）。与Control组相比,U87和U251细胞系中mimics组VEGFA的mRNA和蛋白表达水平均显著降低（P<0.05）。克隆形成实验、血管生成实验和细胞侵袭实验结果表明,与Control组相比,mimics组的克隆形成数量、细胞侵袭数、内皮细胞HUVEC的管状形成数和Ang-2蛋白表达水平均显著降低（P<0.05）;与mimics组相比,VEGFA组克隆形成数量、细胞侵袭数、内皮细胞HUVEC的管状形成数和Ang-2蛋白表达水平均显著升高（P<0.05）。结论：miR-613通过靶向VEGFA抑制了神经胶质瘤细胞的侵袭、增殖和血管生成,提示miR-613可能成为未来治疗胶质瘤的潜在靶点。     

MMP-2 siRNA inhibits radiation-enhanced invasiveness in glioma cells

Background

Our previous work and that of others strongly suggests a relationship between the infiltrative phenotype of gliomas and the expression of MMP-2. Radiation therapy, which represents one of the mainstays of glioma treatment, is known to increase cell invasion by inducing MMP-2. Thus, inhibition of MMP-2 provides a potential means for improving the efficacy of radiotherapy for malignant glioma.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We have tested the ability of a plasmid vector-mediated MMP-2 siRNA (p-MMP-2) to modulate ionizing radiation-induced invasive phenotype in the human glioma cell lines U251 and U87. Cells that were transfected with p-MMP-2 with and without radiation showed a marked reduction of MMP-2 compared to controls and pSV-transfected cells. A significant reduction of proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of cells transfected with p-MMP-2 and in combination with radiation was observed compared to controls. Western blot analysis revealed that radiation-enhanced levels of VEGF, VEGFR-2, pVEGFR-2, p-FAK, and p-p38 were inhibited with p-MMP-2-transfected cells. TUNEL staining showed that radiation did not induce apoptosis in U87 and U251 cells while a significant increase in TUNEL-positive cells was observed when irradiated cells were simultaneously transfected with p-MMP-2 as compared to controls. Intracranial tumor growth was predominantly inhibited in the animals treated with p-MMP-2 alone or in combination with radiation compared to controls.

Conclusion/Significance

MMP-2 inhibition, mediated by p-MMP-2 and in combination with radiation, significantly reduced tumor cell migration, invasion, angiogenesis and tumor growth by modulating several important downstream signaling molecules and directing cells towards apoptosis. Taken together, our results demonstrate the efficacy of p-MMP-2 in inhibiting radiation-enhanced tumor invasion and progression and suggest that it may act as a potent adjuvant for radiotherapy in glioma patients.