Combination Treatment with PPAR γ Ligand and Its Specific Inhibitor GW9662 Downregulates BIS and 14-3-3 Gamma, Inhibiting Stem-Like Properties in Glioblastoma Cells

Biomed Res Int. 2017:2017:5832824. doi: 10.1155/2017/5832824. Epub 2017 May 31.

Abstract

PPARγ is a nuclear receptor that regulates differentiation and proliferation and is highly expressed in many cancer cells. Its synthetic ligands, such as rosiglitazone and ciglitazone, and its inhibitor GW9662, were shown to induce cellular differentiation, inhibit proliferation, and lead to apoptosis. Glioblastoma is a common brain tumor with poor survival prospects. Recently, glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) have been examined as a potential target for anticancer therapy; however, little is known about the combined effect of various agents on GSCs. In this study, we found that cotreatment with PPARγ ligands and GW9662 inhibited stem-like properties in GSC-like spheres, which significantly express SOX2. In addition, this treatment decreased the activation of STAT3 and AKT and decreased the amounts of 14-3-3 gamma and BIS proteins. Moreover, combined administration of small-interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection with PPARγ ligands induced downregulation of SOX2 and MMP2 activity together with inhibition of sphere-forming activity regardless of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Taken together, our findings suggest that a combination therapy using PPARγ ligands and its inhibitor could be a potential therapeutic strategy targeting GSCs.

MeSH terms

  • 14-3-3 Proteins
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Anilides / administration & dosage
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy
  • Glioblastoma / genetics*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / genetics*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • PPAR gamma / genetics*
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • 14-3-3 Proteins
  • 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzanilide
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Anilides
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BAG3 protein, human
  • Ligands
  • PPAR gamma
  • SOX2 protein, human
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • MMP2 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2