Differentiation inducing effects of vesnarinone on human glioma cells

The effects of 3,4-dihydro-6-[4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1-piperazinyl]-2(1H)-quinolinone (vesnarinone) on the growth of glioma cells were examined in vitro. Vesnarinone at a dose of 100 mug/ml suppressed the growth of four different glioma cell lines, U-251MG, U-373MG, U-87MG and A-172, by approximately 50%, with an elongation of the cytoplasmic process on day 5 of culture. The long-term culture of U-87MG with 10 mug/ml of vesnarinone was continued up to day 34. Although growth suppression was approximately 25% on day 5, it reached over 95% on day 34. An increase in the cyclic adenosine monophosphate content of glioma cells cultured with vesnarinone was observed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The accumulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein was observed to occur with vesnarinone by ELISA. These findings suggest that vesnarinone suppressed the growth and induced differentiation of glioma cells in vitro.     

Cadmium-induced IL-6 and IL-8 expression and release from astrocytes are mediated by MAPK and NF-κB pathways

Chronic exposure to cadmium has been linked to brain cancers, learning disabilities and memory deficits. Previous studies of cadmium toxicity in the central nervous system report cadmium induces oxidative stress in neurons and astrocytes. In the peripheral system, cadmium promotes interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 production and release. Elevation of IL-6 expression is linked to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and astrogliosis. IL-8 plays a role in angiogenesis of gliomas and neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, the effects of non-toxic concentrations of cadmium on the production of IL-6 and IL-8 and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. U-87 MG human astrocytoma cells and primary human astrocytes were exposed to cadmium chloride. At 24 h post-exposure to 1 and 10 μM, levels of intracellular cadmium in U-87 MG cells were 11.89 ± 3.59 and 53.08 ± 7.59 μg/g wet weight, respectively. These concentrations had minimal effects on cell morphology and viability. IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA levels and secretion increased in dose- and time-dependent manners post cadmium exposure. Acute exposure to cadmium increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and p65 NF-κB. Pretreatment with U0126–an inhibitor of MEK1 and MEK2 kinases–SB203580–a p38 MAPK inhibitor–and SC-514–an IKKβ inhibitor–suppressed cadmium-induced IL-8 expression and release. Upregulation of cadmium-induced IL-6 was inhibited by U0126 and SC-514, but not SB203580. On the other hand, SP600125–a JNK inhibitor–and celecoxib–a selective COX-2 inhibitor–had no effect on production of both cytokines. In conclusion, non-toxic concentrations of cadmium can stimulate IL-6 and IL-8 release through MAPK phosphorylation and NF-κB activation. Suppressing IL-6 and IL-8 production could be novel approaches to prevent cadmium-induced angiogenesis in gliomas and inflammation in the brain.     

Role of high molecular weight extracellular matrix proteins in glioma cell migration

Malignant human gliomas are characterized by an uncontrolled cell proliferation and infiltrative growth within the brain. Complete surgical removal is difficult due to disseminated tumour cells, and the fundamental mechanisms responsible for this spread are poorly understood. An extensive tumour cell movement along blood vessels is frequently observed and this may be due to specific interactions between tumour cell surface receptors and specific extracellular matrix (ECM) components present in conjunction with vascular elements. In order to investigate the influence of ECM on glioma cell migration, three different human glioma cell lines (U-373 MG, A-172 MG and HF-66) were exposed to known ECM components of the basement membrane (laminin, fibronectin and collagen type IV). Cell migration from multicellular spheroids was studied, using a custom-made medium which was prepared by removing the high molecular weight protein fraction (>100 kDa) from newborn calf serum by ultrafiltration. To this medium, the specific ECM components were added. For two of the cell lines (A-172 MG and U-373 MG), laminin was the most potent stimulator of glioma cell migration; the effect of laminin exceeded that evoked by ordinary serum-supplemented medium. For the HF-66 cell line, fibronectin was the most potent stimulator of migration. Western blot analysis showed that the A-172 MG and HF-66 cell lines expressed low amounts of laminin compared with U-373 MG, which showed extensive intrinsic synthesis of this ligand. U-373 MG was the only cell line that migrated in pure filtered medium. The cells stimulated by fibronectin expressed a different morphology from those stimulated by laminin suggesting that specific ECM-receptor binding may activate different cytoskeletal components within the cells. Furthermore, it was shown that there was no difference in the amount of protein synthesis between cells grown in filtered medium and in filtered medium supplemented with different ECM components. This suggests that ECM-induced cell migration is not dependent on a high level of protein synthesis. It is also shown that α3 integrin, which is a receptor-subunit for laminin, fibronectin and collagen type IV, was highly expressed in all cell lines. This study indicates that glioma cells need serum proteins with a molecular weight >100 kDa to migrate in vitro, and that laminin and fibronectin play an important role in this process.     

Growth effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and a monoclonal antibody against the EGF receptor on four glioma cell lines

Summary Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to stimulate DNA synthesis and cell division in normal glia. At least half of malignant human gliomas (MHG) express high levels of the EGF receptor (EGFR), which are above those detected in normal brain. The demonstration that antibodies against the EGFR inhibit the growth of squamous cell carcinoma line A-431, with large numbers of EGFR, in vitro and in vivo raises the possibility that these agents could be used therapeutically against malignant human gliomas either alone or conjugated to other agents. We have measured the growth effects of EGF and an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, 528 (Ab-528), on four well-characterized human malignant glioma cell lines, D-263 MG, D-247 MG, U-343 MGa Cl 26, and D-37 MG, with 2.9×10⁴, 1.5×10⁵, 8.6×10⁵ and 1.59×10⁶ EGFRs per cell, respectively. EGF significantly increased cell number in D-263 MG and D-37 MG by 65% and 74%, respectively, had no effect on D-247 MG, and significantly decreased cell number in U-343 MGa Cl 26 by 39%. U-343 MGa Cl 26 growth was inhibited 19% by Ab-528, but Ab-528 had no effect on growth of the other MHG lines. Ab-528 significantly inhibited all EGF-mediated growth effects. These studies demonstrate that, although Ab-528 alone has little antiproliferative activity on MGH, it successfully competes with EGF to reduce the biological effects of EGF-EGFR binding. Therefore, this antibody could potentially be used to target radioisotopes to MHG via the EGFR for diagnosis and therapy.Supported by Grants CA-11898, NS-20023, CA-43722, and the Association for Brain Tumor Research (MHW, PAH)     

表皮生长因子介导成胶质瘤细胞NF-κB核转位的机制初探

目的 研究表皮生长因子(EGF)调节成胶质细胞瘤细胞内核因子-κB(NF-κB)核转位的可能机制. 方法 电泳迁移率改变分析法(EMSA)检测激活和抑制磷脂酶C-γ1(PLCγ1)后,成胶质细胞瘤U-87MG中NF-κB的核转位水平,随后采用免疫印迹法(Western Blot)检测蛋白激酶C-α(PKCα)的表达水平,继而检测激活和抑制PKCα后NF-κB的核转位水平. 结果 NF-κB核转位水平在EGF刺激60 min时达最大值,而经PLCγ1特异性抑制剂U-73122提前处理后,刺激后同期却无明显改变;在PKC特异性激动剂佛波酯(PMA)刺激后60 minNF-κB核转位水平达高峰,而提前使用PKCα特异性抑制剂Ro 31-8220处理细胞可有效逆转此改变. 结论 EGF可能通过PLCγ1-PKCα信号通路介导NF-κB向核内转位,从而调控相关侵袭和转移基因的转录.     

Interleukin-4, interleukin-10, and interleukin-1-receptor antagonist but not transforming growth factor-beta induce ramification and reduce adhesion molecule expression of rat microglial cells

The activity of microglial cells is strictly controlled in order to maintain central nervous system (CNS) immune privilege. We hypothesized that several immunomodulatory factors present in the CNS parenchyma, i.e., the Th2-derived cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10, interleukin-1-receptor-antagonist (IL-1-ra), or transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta can modulate microglial morphology and functions. Microglial cells were incubated with IL-4, IL-10, IL-1-ra, TGF-beta, or with astrocyte conditioned media (ACM) and were analyzed for morphological changes, expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, and secretion of IL-1beta or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Whereas untreated controls showed an amoeboid morphology both Th2-derived cytokines, IL-1-ra, and ACM induced a morphological transformation to the ramified phenotype. In contrast, TGF-beta-treated microglial cells showed an amoeboid morphology. Even combined with the neutralizing antibodies against IL-4, IL-10, or TGF-beta ACM induced microglial ramification. Furthermore, ACM did not contain relevant amounts of IL-4 and IL-10, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flow cytometry showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ICAM-1-expression on microglial cells was strongly suppressed by ACM, significantly modulated by IL-4, IL-10, or IL-1-ra, but not influenced by TGF-beta. The LPS-induced secretion of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha was only reduced after application of ACM, whereas IL-4 or IL-10 did not inhibit IL-1beta- or TNF-alpha secretion. TGF-beta enhanced IL-1beta- but not TNF-alpha secretion. In summary, we demonstrate that IL-4, IL-10, and IL-1-ra induce microglial ramification and reduce ICAM-1-expression, whereas the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines is not prevented. TGF-beta has no modulating effects. Importantly, unidentified astrocytic factors that are not identical with IL-4, IL-10, or TGF-beta possess strong immunomodulatory properties.     

Interleukin 1 and gliomas: immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical examinations

Interleukin 1 is a monokine produced by macrophage and has an ability to activate thymocytes. In addition to the immunological regulatory effect, interleukin 1 has attracted a great deal of investigators as a new peptide hormone that was secreted by many cells and has a various physiological activities. In central nervous systems, interleukin 1 promotes the glial cells proliferations on the injured brain and the fetal brain. The cell sources of interleukin 1 in central nervous systems are considered to the microglial cells. On gliomas, Lachmann and Dinarello reported growth promoting effect of IL-1 on U-373 MG human glioblastoma cell. The authors investigated the roles and effects of IL-1 on the growth of gliomas using recombinant human IL-1 beta and anti-HuIL-1 beta monoclonal antibody. On Immunohistochemistry, paraffin sections of 10 cases of gliomas were stained with immunoperoxidase method using anti-human IL-1 beta and anti-GFAP mouse monoclonal antibody. All astrocytomas examined and 2 of 4 glioblastomas were stained by anti-IL-1 beta. The origin of IL-1 that was stained by immunoperoxidase staining is unknown. The authors think it that IL-1 existed in glioma cells were secreted by microglial cells or that the glioma cells themselves secreted IL-1. In either case, IL-1 must be related to the growth of glioma in situ. On immunocytochemistry, U-373 MG human glioblastoma cells purchased from ATCC were incubated on cover-slip with 0 and 10 U/ml of rHuIL-1 beta for 3 or 7 days. The cells were stained with immunoperoxidase method using anti-GFAP monoclonal antibody.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Insulin-like growth factor-I decreased etoposide-induced apoptosis in glioma cells by increasing bcl-2 expression and decreasing CPP32 activity

AIMS: In a variety of tumors, the susceptibility of the tumor cells to apoptotic cell death following chemotherapy is a major determinant of therapeutic outcome. Gliomas are resistant to most chemotherapeutic agents, and its mechanism is not known in detail. In an attempt to understand the mechanism of chemo-resistance, we investigated the roles of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF-I receptors (IGF-IR), and their relationship with the apoptotic response of two glioma cell lines to etoposide, a chemotherapeutic agent for malignant gliomas. METHODS: Two human glioma cell lines, U-87MG and KNS-42, were used. Etoposide-induced cell growth inhibition was quantified using a modified MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrasodium bromide), colorimetric assay. Hoechst 33258 staining, DNA fragmentation assay, and western blot were used for the evaluation of apoptosis. ApoAlert caspase assay was used for measuring the activity of caspase-3 (CPP32) and interleukin-1 beta -converting enzyme (ICE) protease. In addition, the effect of IGF-IR antisense was tested in U-87MG and KNS-42 glioma cell lines. RESULTS: Etoposide inhibited the growth of U-87MG and KNS-42 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Etoposide increased the expression of wild-type p53, activated CPP32 (but not ICE) activity, and induced apoptosis in these cells. IGF-I prevented etoposide-induced apoptosis by increasing the expression of bcl-2 and decreasing the activity of CPP32. IGF-IR antisense enhanced the apoptotic effect of etoposide. CONCLUSIONS: IGF-I decreased etoposide-induced apoptosis in glioma cells by increasing the expression of bcl-2 and decreasing the activity of CPP32. The antisense of IGF-IR increased etoposide-induced apoptosis. The anti-apoptotic effect of IGF-I and IGF-IR might be related to the chemo-resistance of glioma to chemotherapeutic agents.     

Influence of vascular endothelial growth factor and radiation on gap junctional intercellular communication in glioblastoma multiforme cell lines

Glioblastoma multiforme(GBM) is a highly aggressive glial brain tumor with an unfavorable prognosis despite all current therapies including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. One characteristic of this tumor is a strong synthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), an angiogenesis factor, followed by pronounced vascularization. VEGF became a target in the treatment of GBM, for example with bevacizumab or the tyrosine kinase inhibitor axitinib, which blocks VEGF receptors. To improve patients' prognosis, new targets in the treatment of GBM are under investigations. The role of gap junctions in GBM remains unknown, but some experimental therapies affect these intercellular channels to treat the tumor. Gap junctions are composed of connexins to allow the transport of small molecules between adjacent cells through gap junctional intercellular communication(GJIC). Based on data derived from astrocytes in former studies, which show that VEGF is able to enhance GJIC, the current study analyzed the effects of VEGF, radiation therapy and VEGF receptor blockade by axitinib on GJIC in human GBM cell lines U-87 and U-251. While VEGF is able to induce GJIC in U-251 cells but not in U-87 cells, radiation enhances GJIC in both cell lines. VEGF receptor blockade by axitinib diminishes radiation induced effects in U-251 partially, while increases GJIC in U-87 cells. Our data indicate that VEGF and radiation are both modifying components of GJIC in pathologic brain tumor tissue.     

表达VASH1基因的人脑胶质瘤U-87MG细胞对化疗药物敏感性的变化

目的 探讨表达人血管生成抑制因子１（VASH1）的人脑胶质瘤U-87MG细胞对化疗药物的敏感性变化。方法 构建针对VASH1的慢病毒载体pGCL-GFP-VASH1,经测序鉴定后转染293T细胞,筛选出适合浓度的慢病毒转染人脑胶质瘤U-87MG细胞,荧光显微镜下检测转染效率;通过RT-PCR和Western blot分析U-87MG细胞VASH1 mRNA和蛋白表达水平;用CCK-8法检测U-87MG细胞在化疗药物顺铂和替莫唑胺作用下的存活率。流式细胞仪检测U-87MG细胞凋亡。结果 成功构建pGCL-GFP-VASH1慢病毒载体,并成功转染U-87MG细胞,转染率达70％以上;RT-PCR和Western blot结果证实转染VASH1慢病毒载体的U-87MG细胞表达VASH1 mRNA和蛋白。在顺铂或替莫唑胺作用下,表达VASH1的U-87MG细胞存活率均较未表达VASH1的U-87MG细胞明显降低（P<0.01）,而且U-87MG细胞凋亡率明显增加（P<0.01）。结论 VASH1慢病毒载体转染U-87MG细胞可使其稳定表达VASH1,并提高人脑胶质瘤U-87MG细胞对化疗药物敏感性、增加细胞凋亡率。     

Hemokinin-1 has Substance P-like function in U-251 MG astrocytoma cells: a pharmacological and functional study

Substance P (SP) triggers responses in astrocytoma cells, which are considered important for proliferation and neuroimmunomodulatory activity. In this study, we compared the effects of SP with those of the novel tachykinin Hemokinin-1 (HK-1) in the human astrocytoma cell line U-251 MG. We show that U-251 MG cells express high levels of Neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors. The binding affinities of 125I-SP and 125I-mHK-1 to these receptors were in a similar, subnanomolar range. HK-1 and SP stimulated Ca2+ mobilization and induced increased cytokine mRNA expression. A specific NK-1 receptor antagonist blocked the observed effects. We conclude that there are no qualitative differences in SP and HK-1-evoked responses, suggesting that both peptides act through NK-1 receptors in U-251 MG cells. Moreover, we show TAC4 mRNA expression in gliomas, indicating a possible involvement of HK-1 in glioma biology.     

Monoclonal antibody against human glioblastoma multiforme (U-87MG) immunoprecipitates a protein of molecular mass 38 kDa and inhibits tumor growth in nude mice

A monoclonal antibody 6DS₁ against a human glioblastoma multiforme cell line U-87MG recognizes a tumor-specific, cell surface antigen of human glioblastoma cell lines. Partial cross-reactivity is observed with two human neuroblastoma cell lines, SK-N-SH and SK-N-MC, with little or no reactivity towards a rat glioma cell line C6 or normal human adult and fetal brain tissues. The antibody recognizes an antigen of molecular mass 38 kDa as inferred from Western blot analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the immunoprecipitate. The monoclonal antibody 6DS₁ inhibits both the attachment to substratum and growth of U-87MG cells. It strongly cross-reacts with xenotransplants of U-87MG cells and inhibits tumorigenesis (subcutaneous implants of U-87MG cells) in nude mice.     

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is a novel anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic mediator secreted by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dB-cAMP)-differentiated glioblastoma cells

cAMP has been shown to reverse the transformed phenotype of various cancer cells. Human glioblastoma U87MG cells exposed to 500 microM dB-cAMP for 6 days showed reduced proliferation, attenuated invasiveness, and inability to induce angiogenic responses in human brain endothelial cells (HBECs) grown in Matrigeltrade mark. VEGF was the principal mediator of angiogenic actions of U87MG conditioned media (CM), since VEGF neutralizing antibody completely inhibited U87MG-induced angiogenic responses and no detectable levels of IGF, bFGF, and PlGF were found in U87MG CM. VEGF release was induced ( approximately 20%) in dB-cAMP-treated U87MG cells, suggesting a simultaneous induction of anti-angiogenic mediators. Down-stream effectors of dB-cAMP actions in U87MG were investigated by microarray gene expression analysis. Detected increases in differentiation genes, staniocalcin-1 and Wnt-5a, and angiogenesis-related genes, PAI-1, SPARC, IGFBP-4, IGFBP-7, PAPP-A, and PRSS-11 in dB-cAMP-treated U87MG cells were validated by real-time PCR, Western blot, and/or ELISA. A subsequent series of experiments identified IGFBP-4 as the principal anti-angiogenic mediator secreted by glioblastoma cells in response to dB-cAMP. Human recombinant IGFBP-4 inhibited the angiogenic response of HBEC induced by U87MG CM, whereas anti-human IGFBP-4 antibody restored the pro-angiogenic activity of dB-cAMP-treated U87MG CM. Since neither U87MG nor HBEC cells secreted detectable levels of IGF-I, and there are no known cellular IGFBP-4 receptors, the anti-angiogenic effect of IGFBP-4 was likely IGF-I-independent and indirect. IGFBP-4 also antagonized angiogenic effects of VEGF(165), PlGF, and bFGF, and reduced U87MG colony formation in soft-agar. IGFBP-4 is a novel dB-cAMP-induced anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic mediator that may be a promising candidate for glioblastoma therapy.     

S100B attenuates microglia activation in gliomas: possible role of STAT3 pathway

Despite significant infiltration into tumors, the effector function of macrophages (MPs) and microglia (MG) appears to be suppressed in gliomas. Although STAT3 pathway is thought to play a role in this process, the exact mechanism by which gliomas induce STAT3 activation in MPs and MG is not known. Because activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) can induce STAT3, and because gliomas express high levels of S100B, a RAGE ligand, we hypothesized that MP/MG STAT3 activity may be modulated through S100B-RAGE interaction. Exposure of N9 MG and bone marrow-derived monocytes (BMM) to GL261 glioma condition medium (GCM) and low (nM) levels of S100B increased RAGE expression, induced STAT3 and suppressed MG function in vitro. Furthermore, neutralization of S100B in GCM, partially reversed IL-1β suppression in BMM, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of GCM to be in part due to S100B. Finally, blockage of S100B-RAGE interaction inhibited STAT3 activation in N9 MG and in glioma MG/MP in vivo. These findings suggest that the RAGE pathway may play an important role in STAT3 induction in glioma-associated MG/MPs, and that this process may be mediated through S100B.     

Human amylin stimulates inflammatory cytokine secretion from human glioma cells

Chronic neurodegeneration in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients may be mediated, at least in part, by the ability of amyloid beta (Abeta) to exacerbate inflammatory pathways in a conformation-dependent manner. In this regard, we previously reported that the Abeta-peptide-mediated potentiation of inflammatory cytokine secretion from interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-stimulated human astrocytoma cells was conformation dependent. Other amyloidogenic peptides, such as human amylin, which display similar conformation-dependent neurotoxic effects, may also elicit inflammatory cytokine secretion from glial cells. To test this hypothesis, we compared human and rat amylin for the effects on cytokine production in U-373 MG human astrocytoma cells. Human amylin alone stimulated U-373 MG cells to secrete IL-6 and IL-8 in a concentration-dependent manner with maximum effects seen at 10-25 microM peptide. In addition, human amylin markedly potentiated IL-1beta-stimulated cytokine production with a similar concentration dependence. In contrast, nonamyloidogenic rat amylin modestly stimulated cytokine secretion, either alone or combined with IL-1beta. Aging human amylin resulted in diminished cytokine secretion, probably due to the formation of large, less active aggregates. In agreement with our previous studies using Abeta, extracellular Ca(2+) was necessary for human amylin stimulation of cytokine secretion. Our data suggest that amyloidogenic peptides promote cytokine secretion through similar beta-sheeted secondary-structure- and extracellular-Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms.     

Survivin-specific small interfering RNAs enhance sensitivity of glioma U-87MG cells to paclitaxel by promoting apoptosis

A survivin siRNA expression vector was transfected into glioma U-87MG cells and these cells were then treated with paclitaxel.The results showed that survivin-specific siRNA combined with paclitaxel treatment synergistically inhibited glioma U-87MG cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis.This treatment also inhibited the expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins,survivin,cyclinD1,c-Myc and CDK4 and enhanced the sensitivity of U-87MG cells to paclitaxel.     

Altered cellular distribution and subcellular sorting of gamma-tubulin in diffuse astrocytic gliomas and human glioblastoma cell lines

Centrosome amplification is a pivotal mechanism underlying tumorigenesis but its role in gliomas is underinvestigated. The present study specifically examines the expression and distribution of the centrosome-associated cytoskeletal protein gamma-tubulin in 56 primary diffuse astrocytic gliomas (grades II-IV) and in 4 human glioblastoma cell lines (U87MG, U118MG, U138MG, and T98G). Monoclonal anti-peptide antibodies recognizing epitopes in C-terminal or N-terminal domains of the gamma-tubulin molecule were used in immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting studies. In tumors in adults (n = 46), varying degrees of localization were detected in all tumor grades, but immunoreactivity was significantly increased in high-grade anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas multiforme as compared to low-grade diffuse astrocytomas (p = 0.0001). A similar trend was noted in diffuse gliomas in children but the sample of cases was too small as to be statistically meaningful. Two overlapping patterns of ectopic cellular localization were identified in both primary tumors and glioblastoma cell lines: A punctate pattern, in which gamma-tubulin was partially co-distributed with pericentrin in the pericentriolar region, and a diffuse pattern, independent of pericentrin staining, denoting a soluble pool of gamma-tubulin. Cellular gamma-tubulin was detected in both soluble and insoluble (nocodazole-resistant) fractions of glioblastoma cells. Divergent localizations of gamma-tubulin and pericentrin suggest a differential distribution of these 2 centrosome-associated proteins in glioblastoma cell lines. Our results indicate that overexpression and ectopic cellular distribution of gamma-tubulin in astrocytic gliomas may be significant in the context of centrosome protein amplification and may be linked to tumor progression and anaplastic potential.