Inhibition of ERN1 affects the expression of TGIF1 and other homeobox gene expressions in U87MG glioblastoma cells

Abstract

BackgroundThe ERN1 (endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1) pathway plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression in glioblastoma, but molecular mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative relevance of ERN1 activity as a kinase in comparison to its endoribonuclease activity in the regulation of homeobox gene expression. MethodsTwo sublines of U87MG glioblastoma cells with different ways of ERN1 inhibition were used: dnERN1 (overexpressed transgene without protein kinase and endoribonuclease) and dnrERN1 (overexpressed transgene with mutation in endoribonuclease). ERN1 suppression was also done using siRNA for ERN1. Silencing of XBP1 mRNA by specific siRNA was used for suppression of ERN1 endoribonuclease function mediated by XBP1s. The expression levels of homeobox genes and microRNAs were evaluated by qPCR. ResultsThe expression of TGIF1 and ZEB2 genes was downregulated in both types of glioblastoma cells with inhibition of ERN1 showing the ERN1 endoribonuclease-dependent mechanism of their regulation. However, the expression of PBX3 and PRPRX1 genes did not change significantly in dnrERN1 glioblastoma cells but was upregulated in dnERN1 cells indicating the dependence of these gene expressions on the ERN1 protein kinase. At the same time, the changes in PAX6 and PBXIP1 gene expressions introduced in glioblastoma cells by dnrERN1 and dnERN1 were different in direction and magnitude indicating the interaction of ERN1 protein kinase and endoribonuclease activities in regulation of these gene expressions. The impact of ERN1 and XBP1 silencing on the expression of studied homeobox genes is similar to that observed in dnERN1 and dnrERN1 glioblastoma cells, correspondingly. ConclusionThe expression of TGIF1 and other homeobox genes is dependent on the ern1 signaling pathways by diverse mechanisms because inhibition of ERN1 endoribonuclease and both ERN1 enzymatic activities had dissimilar impacts on the expression of most studied genes showing that ERN1 protein kinase plays an important role in controlling homeobox gene expression associated with glioblastoma cell invasion.