Abstract 2483: Expression of microRNA and mRNA in U87 glioblastoma cells transfected with PTEN

Abstract

Abstract Background: U87 glioblastoma cells (ATCC HTB-14) were transfected with a plasmid containing the wild type PTEN gene. Untransfected U87 cells and U87 cells transfected with a plasmid containing only a fluorescent marker served as controls. Methods: Cells were assessed for neurosphere formation and growth in soft agar. Genes were assessed for expression of microRNA and messenger RNA by the NanoString nCounter platform. Results: The PTEN transfectants exhibited reduced neurosphere formation and diminished growth in soft agar. The PTEN transfectants exhibited a 10-fold or greater change in 101 of 799 microRNA species assessed compared to untransfected cells. The change in microRNA expression was strongly influenced by growth in hypoxic conditions. Expression of mRNA was altered in 260 of 760 genes assessed with 8% of the genes showing a 10-fold or greater difference in expression level. A detailed summary of the NanoString results is provided. Conclusions: (1) The PTEN transfectants demonstrate growth characteristics in vitro suggestive of decreased tumorigenicity. (2) The expression level of multiple genes is affected in the PTEN transfectants. (3) Hypoxic conditions bring out the greatest change in the expression level of microRNA in the PTEN transfected cells. Citation Format: David Stefanik, Sidney Goldblatt, Rick Jordan. Expression of microRNA and mRNA in U87 glioblastoma cells transfected with PTEN [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2483.