Suppression of glioma-cell survival by antisense and dominant-negative AKT2 RNA

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Overexpression of growth factors and their receptors such as PDGF, FGF, VEGF, IGF, EGF, TGFα etc. play a critical role in the development and progression of malignant gliomas. AKT, one of the most potent downstream signaling effectors of these growth factor receptors is usually overactivated in malignant gliomas. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of antisense and dominant negative AKT2 RNA on the survival of glioma cells with overexpression of AKT2. METHODS Antisense and dominant negative AKT2 constructs (AS-AKT2, DN-AKT2) were transfected into human glioblastoma cell line T J905 with overexpression of AKT2. Using Western blotting, MTT assay, Ki67 labeling index (Ki67 LI), flow cytometry and the TUNEL method, the expression of AKT2 and GFAP, the proliferation rate and apoptosis of glioma cells transfected with AS-AKT2 or DN-AKT2 were compared to those characteristics of parental and glioma cells transfected with an empty vector. RESULTS Cell proliferation was inhibited in glioma cells transfected with ASAKT2 and DN-AKT2 RNA, while GFAP expression and apoptosis were markedly increased in those cells. CONCLUSION AKT is an important mediator in the growth signaling pathway of malignant gliomas and is a potential promising therapeutic target for malignant gliomas.