Abstract
Cancer-initiating cells comprise a heterogeneous population of undifferentiated cells with the capacity for self-renewal and high proliferative potential. We investigated the role of uPAR and cathepsin B in the maintenance of stem cell nature in glioma-initiating cells (GICs). Simultaneous knockdown of uPAR and cathepsin B significantly reduced the expression of CD133, Nestin, Sox2 and Bmi1 at the protein level and GLI1 and GLI2 at the messenger RNA level. Also, knockdown of uPAR and cathepsin B resulted in a reduction in the number of GICs as well as sphere size. These changes are mediated by Sox2 and Bmi1, downstream of hedgehog signaling. Addition of cyclopamine reduced the expression of Sox2 and Bmi1 along with GLI1 and GLI2 expression, induced differentiation and reduced subsphere formation of GICs thereby indicating that hedgehog signaling acts upstream of Sox2 and Bmi1. Further confirmation was obtained from increased luciferase expression under the control of a GLI-bound Sox2 and Bmi1 luciferase promoter. Simultaneous knockdown of uPAR and cathepsin B also reduced the expression of Nestin Sox2 and Bmi1 in vivo. Thus, our study highlights the importance of uPAR and cathepsin B in the regulation of malignant stem cell self-renewal through hedgehog components, Bmi1 and Sox2.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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AC133 Antigen
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Animals
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Antigens, CD / metabolism
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Cathepsin B / genetics
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Cathepsin B / metabolism
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Cathepsin B / physiology*
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cell Proliferation
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Cell Separation
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Female
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Flow Cytometry
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Gene Expression
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Gene Knockdown Techniques
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Glioma / metabolism*
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Glioma / pathology
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Glycoproteins / metabolism
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Hedgehog Proteins / metabolism
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Humans
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Mice
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Mice, Nude
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Neoplasm Transplantation
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / radiation effects
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Peptides / metabolism
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Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / genetics
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Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / metabolism*
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RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
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Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / genetics
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Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / metabolism
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Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / physiology*
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SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics
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SOXB1 Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / physiology*
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Transcriptional Activation
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Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
Substances
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AC133 Antigen
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Antigens, CD
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BMI1 protein, human
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GLI1 protein, human
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Glycoproteins
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Hedgehog Proteins
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PROM1 protein, human
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Peptides
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Prom1 protein, mouse
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RNA, Small Interfering
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Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
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SOX2 protein, human
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SOXB1 Transcription Factors
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Transcription Factors
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Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
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Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
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CTSB protein, human
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Cathepsin B