Microtubule-associated protein 2 knockdown sensitizes glioma cells to vincristine treatment

Neuroreport. 2020 Feb 5;31(3):197-204. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001378.

Abstract

Gliomas are the most common and lethal tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). At present, standard treatment involves chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery, but the prognosis for most gliomas remains poor due to tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance. Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), a microtubule-stabilizing protein, plays a critical role in many cellular processes and may correlate with the proliferation, apoptosis, and drug sensitivity of tumor cells, especially their sensitivity to microtubule-targeting drugs (MTDs). In this study, we investigated the role of MAP2 in gliomas and its relationship to the chemosensitivity of vincristine (VCR), an MTD commonly used in glioma chemotherapy. We downregulated MAP2 expression in glioma cells using RNA interference, observed the resultant changes in the biological characteristics of the cells, and tested their drug sensitivity to VCR by MTT assay. The results show downregulation of MAP2 in glioma cells significantly inhibited cell viability and migration, induced apoptosis, and increased sensitivity to VCR in vitro. Our findings suggest that MAP2 may be a useful molecular marker in MTD chemotherapy and a potential therapeutic target in gliomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / physiology*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Glioma / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology
  • Vincristine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • MAP2 protein, human
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • Vincristine