CXCL5 promotes tumorigenesis and angiogenesis of glioblastoma via JAK-STAT/NF-κb signaling pathways

Abstract

Background: The tumor microenvironment contains chemokines that play a crucial role in various processes, such as tumorigenesis, inflammation, and therapy resistance, in different types of cancer. CXCL5 is a significant chemokine that has been shown to promote tumor proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and therapy resistance when overexpressed in various types of cancer. This research aims to investigate the impact of CXCL5 on the biological functions of glioblastoma (GBM).

Methods: The TCGA GBM and GEO databases were utilized to perform transcriptome microarray analysis and oncogenic signaling pathway analysis of CXCL5 in GBM. Validation of CXCL5 expression was performed using RT-qPCR and Western Blot. The impact of CXCL5 on cell proliferation, tumorigenesis, and angiogenesis in GBM was assessed through various methods, including cell proliferation assay, cloning assay, intracranial xenograft tumor models, and tube formation assay. Clinical prognosis was evaluated in 59 samples of gliomas with varying degrees of malignancy (grades 2, 3, and 4) and the TCGA GBM database, based on CXCL5 expression levels. The activities of the JAK-STAT and NF-κB signaling pathways were detected using Western Blot.

Results: The expression of CXCL5 was highly enriched in GBM. Moreover, the inhibition of CXCL5 showed a significant efficacy in suppressing cellular proliferation and angiogenesis, resulting in extended survival rates in xenograft mouse models in comparison to the control group. Notably, pretreatment with dapsone exhibited a reversal of the impact of CXCL5 on the formation of colonies and tubes in GBM cells. Elevated expression of CXCL5 was correlated with poor outcomes in GBM patients. Furthermore, the overexpression of CXCL5 has been associated with the activation of JAK-STAT and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Conclusions: CXCL5 plays an important role in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis, indicating the potential for novel therapies targeting CXCL5 in GBM.

Keywords: Angiogenesis; CXCL5; Glioblastoma; Tumorigenesis.