反义microRNA-221与反义microRNA-222抑制人脑胶质瘤细胞的体外与体内生长

目的 探讨敲低microRNA(miR)-221和miR-222表达以抑制人脑胶质瘤U251细胞生长的作用及其机制.方法 脂质体介导转染反义寡聚核苷酸(AS-miR-221和AS-miR-222)于人脑胶质瘤细胞U251.采用Northern blot鉴定转染后U251细胞的miR-221和miR-222表达水平;四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法评价AS-miR-221和AS-miR-222抑制U251细胞生长的作用;Transwell实验检测细胞侵袭能力;流式细胞术检测细胞周期的分布和凋亡;Western blot检测转染后U251细胞相关蛋白表达的变化,并用AS-miR-221和AS-miR-222治疗裸鼠皮下移植瘤,观察其在活体内对肿瘤生长的抑制作用.结果 Northern blot检测结果 显示,AS-miR-221和AS-miR-222共转染后,肿瘤细胞miR-221和miR-222表达明显下降,细胞生长速度降低,细胞穿过率为14.5%,细胞周期出现G0/G1期阻滞,凋亡率(13.7%)增高,并可见connexin43、p27、PUMA、caspase-3、PTEN、TIMP3和Bax等相关蛋白表达增高,而bcl-2表达降低,p53无明显变化.经AS-miR-221和AS-miR-222治疗后,裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长明显受抑.结论 AS-miR-221和AS-miR-222共转染可抑制U251细胞的增殖与侵袭,miR-221和miR-222可以作为人脑胶质瘤基因治疗的侯选靶点.     

IFN-β基因诱导裸鼠胶质瘤Fas 表达上调及细胞凋亡的实验研究

 目的 研究β干扰素基因对人脑胶质瘤的诱导凋亡作用,以及能否诱导胶质瘤细胞Fas表达上调,并探讨了β干扰素基因诱导细胞凋亡及Fas表达上调之间的联系. 方法 建立裸鼠SHG44胶质瘤模型,用脂质体包埋法将IFN-β基因的真核表达载体pSV2IFNβ注入裸鼠皮下SHG44脑胶质瘤,观察肿瘤生长情况并计算肿瘤体积,通过免疫组化、TUNEL染色,了解IFN-β基因诱导人脑胶质瘤细胞凋亡的作用以及胶质瘤细胞Fas表达情况. 结果 IFN-β在荷瘤裸鼠瘤体内获得表达,裸鼠皮下胶质瘤生长受到抑制,并诱导SHG44胶质瘤细胞凋亡,胶质瘤细胞Fas表达明显高于对照组. 结论 IFN-β基因能够抑制人脑胶质瘤生长,并诱导胶质瘤细胞凋亡;IFN-β基因诱导胶质瘤细胞凋亡可能是Fas表达上调的结果.     

IFN-β基因诱导裸鼠胶质瘤Fas表达上调及细胞调亡的实验研究

目的研究β干扰素基因对人脑胶质瘤的诱导凋亡作用,以及能否诱导胶质瘤细胞Fas表达上调,并探讨了β干扰素基因诱导细胞凋亡及Fas表达上调之间的联系.方法建立裸鼠SHG44胶质瘤模型,用脂质体包埋法将IFN-β基因的真核表达载体pSV2IFNβ注入裸鼠皮下SHG44脑胶质瘤,观察肿瘤生长情况并计算肿瘤体积,通过免疫组化、TUNEL染色,了解IFN-β基因诱导人脑胶质瘤细胞凋亡的作用以及胶质瘤细胞Fas表达情况.结果 IFN-β在荷瘤裸鼠瘤体内获得表达,裸鼠皮下胶质瘤生长受到抑制,并诱导SHG44胶质瘤细胞凋亡,胶质瘤细胞Fas表达明显高于对照组.结论 IFN-β基因能够抑制人脑胶质瘤生长,并诱导胶质瘤细胞凋亡;IFN-β基因诱导胶质瘤细胞凋亡可能是Fas表达上调的结果.     

外源性IFN-β基因对裸鼠SHG44胶质瘤的诱导凋亡研究

目的:探讨β干扰素基因对人脑胶质瘤的诱导凋亡作用,以及人β干扰素裸DNA治疗人脑胶质瘤的可行性和作用机制.方法:建立裸鼠SHG44胶质瘤模型,用脂质体包埋法将IFN-β基因的真核表达载体pSV2IFNβ注入裸鼠皮下SHG44脑胶质瘤,观察肿瘤生长情况并计算肿瘤体积,通过免疫组化、TUNEL染色以及电镜,了解IFN-β基因诱导人脑胶质瘤细胞凋亡的作用.结果:IFN-β在荷瘤裸鼠瘤体内获得表达,裸鼠皮下胶质瘤生长受到抑制,并诱导SHG44胶质瘤细胞凋亡.结论:IFN-β裸DNA能够抑制人脑胶质瘤生长并诱导胶质瘤细胞凋亡,该实验为IFN-β基因治疗人脑胶质瘤的应用奠定了初步基础.     

腺病毒介导PTEN过表达抑制人脑胶质瘤U251细胞裸鼠移植瘤的生长

目的:研究含第10号染色体同源丢失性磷酸酶-张力蛋白(phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromo-some 10,PTEN)基因的重组腺病毒(Ad-PTEN-GFP)对人胶质瘤U251细胞裸鼠移植瘤生长的抑制作用。方法:于裸鼠背部注射人脑胶质瘤U251细胞,建立胶质瘤裸鼠移植瘤模型。荷瘤裸鼠随机分为3组进行治疗:Ad-PTEN-GFP组,Ad-GFP组(空载体组)及PBS组(空白组),观察3组裸鼠移植瘤的生长,测量肿瘤体积,绘制肿瘤生长曲线,并观察荷瘤裸鼠的生存时间。采用TUNEL法检测移植瘤组织中细胞凋亡的情况,采用免疫组化法检测移植瘤组织中PTEN及P65蛋白的表达。结果:与Ad-GFP组相比,Ad-PTEN-GFP组移植瘤的生长受到抑制,肿瘤体积抑制率显著升高[(82.5±12.7)%vs(7.2±1.3)%,P<0.05],荷瘤裸鼠生存时间延长[(103±10)vs(58±8)d,P<0.01];TUNEL结果表明,Ad-PTEN-GFP组与Ad-GFP组相比,移植瘤细胞凋亡率明显增加[(46.4±8.3)%vs(4.6±1.0)%,P<0.01];免疫组化结果显示,Ad-PTEN-GFP组与Ad-GFP组相比,移植瘤组织中PTEN蛋白的阳性表达率增高(83.3%vs 0,P<0.01),P65蛋白阳性表达率下降(16.7%vs 66.7%,P<0.01)。结论:感染Ad-PTEN-GFP后人脑胶质瘤U251细胞裸鼠移植瘤的生长受到抑制,其机制可能与P65蛋白表达的下调有关。     

Leptin促进人脑胶质瘤U87MG细胞的迁移和侵袭

目的:探讨瘦素(leptin)对人脑胶质瘤U87MG细胞迁移及侵袭能力的影响及其机制。方法:Leptin处理U87MG细胞,采用细胞划痕实验检测U87MG细胞的迁移能力,Transwell实验检测U87MG细胞的侵袭能力,RT-PCR及Western blot-ting法检测U87MG细胞中MMP-2及MMP-9 mRNA和蛋白的表达。结果:Leptin明显促进U87MG细胞迁移能力[(152.42±3.29)vs(83.24±2.61)μm,P<0.05]和侵袭能力[(31.78±5.04)vs(17.03±2.41)个细胞,P<0.05],leptin能显著上调U87MG细胞中MMP-2、MMP-9 mRNA[(0.76±0.04)vs(0.35±0.02),(0.84±0.02)vs(0.41±0.06);均P<0.05]及蛋白[(0.79±0.03)vs(0.23±0.01),(0.81±0.05)vs(0.39±0.03);均P<0.05]的表达。MMP抑制剂GM6001(10μmol/ml)可以逆转leptin对U87MG细胞迁移[(82.05±2.98)vs(81.76±3.25)μm,P>0.05]和侵袭能力[(19.23±2.46)vs(18.02±1.98)个细胞,P>0.05]的影响。结论:Leptin可以促进人脑胶质瘤U87MG细胞的侵袭及迁移,其机制可能与上调MMP-2、MMP-9的表达有关。     

Galectin-3调控Wnt信号通路对脑胶质瘤细胞凋亡的影响

目的:半乳糖凝集素-3（Galectin-3）调控Wnt信号通路对人脑胶质瘤细胞凋亡的影响。方法:RT-PCR及Western blot检测人脑胶质瘤组织中Galectin-3的mRNA和蛋白表达;Western blot检测人脑胶质瘤U251、U87、SHG-44细胞中Galectin-3的蛋白表达;将Galectin-3的特异性siRNA(Galectin-siRNA)转染人脑胶质瘤U87细胞,Western blot、流式细胞术分别检测转染48 h后Galectin-3、Wnt5a、β-catenin和Cleaved caspase3蛋白表达及细胞凋亡率。结果:Galectin-3在人脑胶质瘤组织mRNA和蛋白表达均显著高于瘤旁组织（P＜0.01）;U251、U87、SHG-44细胞中Galectin-3蛋白表达从高到低为U87>U251>SHG-44,选择U87细胞作为后续研究;Galectin-3-siRNA1的Galectin-3蛋白表达最低,选择作为后续研究;NC-siRNA组细胞凋亡率、Cleaved caspase3、Wnt5a、β-catenin蛋白表达与对照组差异不显著（P＞0.05）,与对照组比较,Galectin-3-siRNA组细胞凋亡率明显升高,Cleaved caspase3蛋白表达明显升高,Wnt5a和β-catenin蛋白表达明显降低（P＜0.01）。结论:沉默Galectin-3表达可诱导人脑胶质瘤细胞凋亡,机制可能与Wnt信号通路的下调有关。     

Survivin基因RNAi对子宫颈癌裸鼠移植瘤生长与凋亡的影响

目的：观察survivin基因RNAi对宫颈癌裸鼠移植瘤生长与凋亡的影响。方法：随机将BALB/c裸鼠分4组,分别注射转染携survivin RNAi重组质粒的HeLas2细胞、转染阴性对照质粒细胞HeLaNC、转染空质粒细胞HeLaU6 neo及宫颈癌HeLa细胞,建立人宫颈癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型。观察survivin RNAi对人宫颈癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长的影响;免疫组化法检测移植瘤组织中survivin蛋白的表达和微血管密度（MVD）,HE染色及TUNEL染色观察survivin RNAi对人宫颈癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤凋亡的影响。结果：成功建立人宫颈癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型, HeLas2组裸鼠瘤重明显小于其他3组（P<0.05）;肿瘤生长抑制率为67.9%。免疫组化结果显示,HeLas2组裸鼠移植瘤组织中survivin蛋白表达显著下降; MVD值也显著降低（P<0.05）;HE染色、TUNEL染色结果显示,HeLas2组裸鼠移植瘤组织细胞凋亡明显增多（P<0.05）,AI值达(22.73±137)%。结论：Survivin基因RNAi可通过下调移植瘤组织survivin蛋白表达和降低其MVD抑制移植瘤生长并促进其凋亡。     

Src酪氨酸激酶抑制剂dasatinib对人食管鳞癌细胞KYSE180生长及凋亡的影响

目的:探讨Src酪氨酸激酶抑制剂dasatinib对人食管鳞癌细胞生长和凋亡的影响及其相关机制.方法:采用蛋白质印迹法检测食管鳞癌细胞株KYSE180、EC109、KYSE30和人永生化食管上皮细胞株SHEE中总Src和磷酸化Src激酶的表达.用不同剂量的Src酪氨酸激酶抑制剂dasatinib作用KYSE180细胞后,分别采用MTT法、FCM法、蛋白质印迹法和裸鼠皮下移植瘤实验观察dasatinib对KYSE180细胞Src激酶的抑制作用,以及对细胞增殖、细胞周期、细胞凋亡和裸鼠皮下移植瘤的影响.结果:KYSE180、EC109和KYSE30细胞中Src激酶显著活化,而在SHEE细胞中未见活化Src激酶.Dasatinib可显著抑制KYSE180细胞增殖,阻碍细胞G1/S期转换,促进细胞凋亡,并上调caspase 3、cytochrome C和Bax等凋亡相关蛋白的表达.另外,dasatinib可显著抑制裸鼠皮下KYSE180细胞移植瘤的生长.结论:Dasatinib可通过抑制食管鳞癌细胞增殖、促进细胞凋亡以及影响细胞周期等机制,抑制食管鳞癌细胞皮下移植瘤的生长,因此其可望成为治疗食管鳞癌的一个有效药物.     

过表达程序性细胞死亡基因5 提高脑神经胶质瘤细胞对替莫唑胺的化疗敏感性

[摘要] 目的：探讨抑癌基因程序性细胞死亡基因5（programmed cell death 5 gene, PDCD5）对脑神经胶质瘤细胞增殖及替莫唑胺（temozolomide，TMZ）化疗敏感性的影响。方法：收集吉林大学第一临床医院神经外科2009 年1 月至2014 年12 月间收治的脑神经胶质瘤患者116 例。分别利用qPCR、WB及免疫组化方法检测神经胶质瘤细胞系U87、U251、稳定克隆U87-PDCD5 细胞、转染si-PDCD5 后的脑胶质瘤细胞以及原发性神经胶质瘤组织中PDCD5 mRNA及蛋白质的表达情况。MTT法检测过表达或敲降PDCD5 对胶质瘤细胞生长及TMZ化疗敏感性的影响。建立脑胶质瘤细胞系U87 裸鼠皮下荷瘤模型，随机分为对照组、TMZ组、PDCD5 组和TMZ+外源性PDCD5 重组表达载体联合组，治疗20 d 后断颈处死动物，切取瘤组织，测量瘤体积并称瘤质量。采用qPCR、WB 法检测移植瘤组织中PDCD5 的表达水平，分析PDCD5 联合TMZ 治疗对脑神经胶质瘤生长的影响。结果：PDCD5 mRNA和蛋白在U87 细胞中的相对表达量明显低于在U251 细胞中的相对表达量（均P<0.05）；在高级别脑神经胶质瘤组织中，PDCD5 mRNA和蛋白的表达明显低于低级别组织（均P<0.05）；U87-PDCD5 和U251 细胞对TMZ的敏感性均高于U87 细胞（均P<0.05），U87-PDCD5-siRNA、U251-siRNA 组细胞对TMZ的敏感性均明显低于对照组（均P<0.05）。比较裸鼠移植瘤的瘤体积和质量，对照组>TMZ组>PDCD5 组>联合组（均P<0.05）；各组移植瘤组织内PDCD5 mRNA及蛋白的表达水平趋势与之相反（均P<0.05）。结论：PDCD5 过表达可增强脑神经胶质瘤细胞对TMZ的化疗敏感性，而沉默PDCD5 表达作用则相反，PDCD5 与TMZ联合应用可更好地抑制脑神经胶质瘤裸鼠移植瘤的生长。     

Impact of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) on glioma cell growth and invasion: requirement for the C-terminal domain

Expression of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is downregulated in malignant glioma cell lines and is barely detectable in high-grade primary astrocytoma (glioblastoma multiforme). We determined the effect of forced CAR expression on the invasion and growth of the human glioma cell line U87-MG, which does not express any CAR. Although retrovirally mediated expression of full-length CAR in U87-MG cells did not affect monolayer growth in vitro, it did reduce glioma cell invasion in a 3-dimensional spheroid model. Furthermore, in xenograft experiments, intracerebral implantation of glioma cells expressing full-length CAR resulted in tumors with a significantly reduced volume compared to tumors generated by control vector-transduced U87-MG cells. In contrast, U87-MG cells expressing transmembrane CAR with a deletion of the entire cytoplasmic domain (except for the first 2 intracellular juxtamembrane cysteine amino acids) had rates of invasion and tumor growth that were similar to those of the control cells. This difference in behavior between the 2 forms of CAR was not due to improper cell surface localization of the cytoplasmically deleted CAR as determined by comparable immunostaining of unpermeabilized cells, equivalent adenoviral transduction of the cells and similar extent of fractionation into lipid-rich domains. Taken together, these results suggest that the decrease or loss of CAR expression in malignant glioma may confer a selective advantage in growth and invasion to these tumors.     

Mild Heat Shock Induces Autophagic Growth Arrest,But Not Apoptosis in U251-MG and U87-MG Human Malignant Glioma Cells

Although hyperthermia has been used as a treatment of malignant brain tumors, it is not yet clear what is the mechanism of the cell growth inhibition by heat shock, especially by the temperature which has clinically been applied to tumor-brain border-zone, 42-43 degrees C. Therefore, we evaluated the change of U251-MG and U87-MG human malignant glioma cells after 43 degrees C-heat shock comparing with that of 45 degrees C. First, we observed that cell growth was transiently inhibited after 43 degrees C-heat shock for 3 or 5 days, in U251-MG or U87-MG cells, respectively, which was followed by regrowth. During the period of transient growth inhibition, mild G2/M arrest was observed. However, apoptosis was observed in only 2.7% or 1.5%, of 43 degrees C-heated cells, in U251-MG or U87-MG cells, respectively. Instead, transmission electron micrography showed the formation of vacuoles, degeneration of mitochondria, and autophagosomes. Moreover, in the both cell lines, flow-cytometric analysis with acridine orange revealed the induction of acidic vesicle organelles, which was blocked by 3-methyladenine (3-MA), suggesting the involvement of autophagy. Furthermore, while 3-MA did not increase the anti-tumor effect of 43 degrees C-heat shock, bafilomycin A1, another autophagy inhibitor, did significantly enhance the effect in U251-MG cells. Taken together, mild heat shock (43 degrees C for 2 h) causes autophagy and mild G2/M arrest, but does not induce apparent apoptosis in U251-MG and U87-MG glioma cells. Inhibition of autophagy with bafilomycin A1 may increase the anti-tumor efficacy of mild heat shock against some malignant glioma cells.     

Ceramide triggers caspase activation during gamma-radiation-induced apoptosis of human glioma cells lacking functional p53

We have previously shown that treatment of human glioma U87-MG cells expressing wild-type p53 with a DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor, etoposide resulted in ceramide-dependent apoptotic cell death. However, U87-W E6 cells lacking functional p53 due to the expression of human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV-16) E6 oncoprotein were resistant to etoposide. In order to gain insight into the roles of p53 and ceramide in gamma-radiation-induced glioma cell death, we used U87-W E6 and vector-infected U87-LXSN cells. U87-LXSN glioma cells expressing wild-type p53 were relatively resistant to gamma-radiation. U87-W E6 cells, which lost functional p53, became susceptible to radiation-induced apoptosis. Activation of caspase-3, and formation of ceramide by acid sphingomyelinase, but not by neutral sphingomyelinase, were associated with p53-independent apoptosis. Radiation-induced caspase activation and apoptotic death in U87-W E6 cells were modified by the agents which affected ceramide metabolism. SR33557, an inhibitor of acid sphingomyelinase, suppressed radiation-induced caspase activation and then apoptotic cell death. In contrast, N-oleoylethanolamine (OE) and D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), which inhibit ceramidase and UDP-glucose:ceramide glucosyltransferase-1, respectively, and then augment ceramide formation, enhanced radiation-induced caspase activation. These results indicate that glioma cells with functional p53 were relatively resistant to gamma-radiation, and that ceramide may play an important role in caspase activation during gamma-radiation-induced apoptosis of glioma cells lacking functional p53.     

Akt inhibitor shows anticancer and radiosensitizing effects in malignant glioma cells by inducing autophagy

Autophagy, or programmed cell death type II, is one of the responses of cancer cells to various therapies, including ionizing radiation. Recently, we have shown that radiation induces autophagy, but not apoptosis, in various malignant glioma cell lines. Autophagy is mainly regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. The Akt/mTOR pathway also mediates oncogenesis and radioresistance. Thus, we hypothesized that inhibiting this pathway has both an anticancer and radiosensitizing effect by activating autophagy. The purpose of our study was therefore to determine whether and by which mechanisms an Akt inhibitor, 1L-6-hydroxymethyl-chiro-inositol 2(R)-2-O-methyl-3-O-octadecylcarbonate, had anticancer and radiosensitizing effects on malignant glioma U87-MG and radioresistant U87-MG cells with a consistitutively active form of epidermal growth factor receptor (U87-MGDeltaEGFR). Treatment with the Akt inhibitor successfully inhibited Akt activity and reduced cell viability in both cell lines. In terms of the mechanism, the Akt inhibitor decreased phosphorylated p70S6 kinase, a downstream target of Akt, and induced autophagy, but not apoptosis. Furthermore, the Akt inhibitor radiosensitized both U87-MG and U87-MGDeltaEGFR cells by enhancing autophagy. Specific inhibition of Akt using the dominant-negative Akt plasmid also resulted in enhanced radiation-induced autophagy. In conclusion, an Akt inhibitor showed anticancer and radiosensitizing effect on U87-MG and U87-MGDeltaEGFR cells by inducing autophagy. Thus, Akt inhibitors may represent a promising new therapy as a single treatment or used in combination with radiation for malignant gliomas, including radioresistant ones that express DeltaEGFR.     

Synergistic augmentation of rapamycin-induced autophagy in malignant glioma cells by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B inhibitors

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a downstream effector of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway and a central modulator of cell proliferation in malignant gliomas. Therefore, the targeting of mTOR signaling is considered a promising therapy for malignant gliomas. However, the mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic effects of a selective mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, on malignant glioma cells are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was thus to elucidate how rapamycin exerts its cytotoxic effects on malignant glioma cells. We showed that rapamycin induced autophagy but not apoptosis in rapamycin-sensitive malignant glioma U87-MG and T98G cells by inhibiting the function of mTOR. In contrast, in rapamycin-resistant U373-MG cells, the inhibitory effect of rapamycin was minor, although the phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase, a molecule downstream of mTOR, was remarkably inhibited. Interestingly, a PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, and an Akt inhibitor, UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine), both synergistically sensitized U87-MG and T98G cells as well as U373-MG cells to rapamycin by stimulating the induction of autophagy. Enforced expression of active Akt in tumor cells suppressed the combined effects of LY294002 or UCN-01, whereas dominant-negative Akt expression was sufficient to increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to rapamycin. These results indicate that rapamycin exerts its antitumor effect on malignant glioma cells by inducing autophagy and suggest that in malignant glioma cells a disruption of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway could greatly enhance the effectiveness of mTOR inhibitors.     

Differential response of human glioblastoma cell lines to combined camptothecin and ionizing radiation treatment

In order to enhance the cytotoxicity of radiation, camptothecin (CPT), an inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase I, was added to the cultured glioma cell lines before irradiation (IR). Radiation responses of five glioblastoma cell lines (U87-MG, U373-MG, GHE, GaMG and SNB-19) treated with CPT were analyzed in terms of cell and colony counts, cell cycle progression, expression of histone gamma H2AX, DNA repair protein Rad50, survivin, cleaved caspase 3, p53 and of topoisomerase I. CPT enhanced the radiotoxicity in U87-MG and SNB-19 cell lines if cell and colony counts were used as the end-points. In contrast, pre-treatment with CPT of U373-MG, GHE and GaMG cell lines did not enhance cytotoxicity of IR in terms of cell and colony counts but accelerated DNA damage repair assessed by Rad50 foci. CPT treated glioma cells revealed at least two subpopulations with respect to the expression of histone gamma H2AX, a marker of DNA double-strand breaks. The cell lines tested also differed in the expression of survivin, cleaved caspase 3, p53 and of topoisomerase I. The failure of CPT to enhance the radiotoxicity of glioma U373-MG, GHE and GaMG cell lines in terms of cell and colony counts was found to correlate with accelerated DNA damage repair, and with low expression of topoisomerase I, a target of CPT.     

Farnesyltransferase inhibitor,R115777, reverses the resistance of human glioma cell lines to ionizing radiation

We investigated for the first time the ability of farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTI) to radiosensitize human glioma. For this, human glioma cell lines were treated with the specific FTI, R115777, 48 hr prior to a 2Gy irradiation. The treatment with R115777 decreased by 45% the SF2 value of the more radioresistant glioma cell lines (SF763 and U87) without any significant effect on the radioresistance of the radiosensitive ones (SF767 and U251-MG). This radiosensitizer effect was due to the induction of post-mitotic necrotic cell death. We then tested the hypothesis that wild-type Ras or RhoB, which has been proposed as potential FTI target, could control the glioma radioresistance. For this, we expressed inducible dominant negative forms of Ras (RasN17) and RhoB (RhoBN19) in radioresistant U87 glioma cell line and analyzed the survival after irradiation of the obtained clones. While blocking Ras pathways by expression of RasN17 did not affect the SF2 value of the U87 glioma cell line, the expression of RhoBN19 dramatically reduced the cell survival after irradiation of these cells. Taken together, these data demonstrated that RhoB, but not Ras, is implicated in glioma radioresistance. Furthermore, the R115777 differential radiosensitizer effect underlines the potential therapeutic interest of using this drug as a radiosensitizer of human glioma.     

RNA interference targeting survivin exerts antitumoral effects in vitro and in established glioma xenografts in vivo

Malignant glioma represents the most common primary adult brain tumor in Western industrialized countries. Despite aggressive treatment modalities, the median survival duration for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the highest grade malignant glioma, has not improved significantly over past decades. One promising approach to deal with GBM is the inactivation of proteins essential for survival or progression of glioma cells by means of RNA interference (RNAi) techniques. A likely candidate for an RNAi therapy of gliomas is the inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin. Survivin is involved in 2 main cellular processes-cell division and inhibition of apoptosis. We show here that stable RNAi of survivin induced polyploidy, apoptosis, and impaired proliferation of human U343-MG, U373-MG, H4, and U87-MG cells and of primary glioblastoma cells. Proteome profiler arrays using U373-MG cells identified a novel set of differentially expressed genes upon RNAi-mediated survivin knockdown. In particular, the death receptor TRAIL R2/DR5 was strongly upregulated in survivin-depleted glioma cells, inducing an enhanced cytotoxic response of allogeneic human NK cells. Moreover, an experimental in vivo therapy using polyethylenimine (PEI)/siRNA complexes for survivin knockdown efficiently blocked tumor growth of established subcutaneous U373-MG tumors and enhanced survival of NMRI(nu/nu) mice orthopically transplanted with U87-MG cells. We conclude that survivin is functionally relevant in gliomas and that PEI-mediated exogenous delivery of siRNA targeting survivin is a promising strategy for glioblastoma therapy.