PLEKHG5 regulates autophagy, survival and MGMT expression in U251-MG glioblastoma cells

Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 14;10(1):21858. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77958-3.

Abstract

A signalling pathway involving PLEKHG5 (guanine exchange factor) for the Ras superfamily member RAB26 to transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in autophagy. PLEKHG5 was reported in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and correlates with patient survival. Thus, the generation of a cellular model for understanding PLEKHG5 signalling is the study purpose. We generated a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of PLEKHG5 in U251-MG glioblastoma cells and analysed resulting changes. Next, we used a mRFP-GFP-LC3+ reporter for visualisation of autophagic defects and rescued the phenotype of PLEKHG5 wildtype via transduction of a constitutively active RAB26QL-plasmid. Effects of overexpressing RAB26 were investigated and correlated with the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and cellular survival. PLEKHG5 knockout showed changes in morphology, loss of filopodia and higher population doubling times. Accumulation of autolysosomes was resulted by decreased LAMP-1 in PLEKHG5-deficient cells. Rescue of PLEKHG5-/- restored the downregulation of RhoA activity, showed faster response to tumour necrosis factor and better cellular fitness. MGMT expression was activated after RAB26 overexpression compared to non-transduced cells. Survival of PLEKHG5 knockout was rescued together with sensitivity to temozolomide by RAB26QL. This study provides new insights in the PLEKHG5/RAB26 signalling within U251-MG cells, which suggests potential therapeutic strategies in other glioma cells and further in primary GBM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • DNA Modification Methylases / biosynthesis*
  • DNA Modification Methylases / genetics
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / biosynthesis*
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • PLEKHG5 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • RHOA protein, human
  • DNA Modification Methylases
  • MGMT protein, human
  • Rab26 protein, human
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
  • DNA Repair Enzymes