Casein Kinase 1 Epsilon Regulates Glioblastoma Cell Survival

Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 11;8(1):13621. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-31864-x.

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain cancer with a dismal prognosis. The difficulty in treating glioblastoma is largely attributed to the lack of effective therapeutic targets. In our previous work, we identified casein kinase 1 ε (CK1ε, also known as CSNK1E) as a potential survival factor in glioblastoma. However, how CK1ε controls cell survival remains elusive and whether targeting CK1ε is a possible treatment for glioblastoma requires further investigation. Here we report that CK1ε was expressed at the highest level among six CK1 isoforms in glioblastoma and enriched in high-grade glioma, but not glia cells. Depletion of CK1ε remarkably inhibited the growth of glioblastoma cells and suppressed self-renewal of glioblastoma stem cells, while having limited effect on astrocytes. CK1ε deprivation activated β-catenin and induced apoptosis, which was further counteracted by knockdown of β-catenin. The CK1ε inhibitor IC261, but not PF-4800567, activated β-catenin and blocked the growth of glioblastoma cells and glioblastoma stem cells. Congruently, IC261 elicited a robust growth inhibition of human glioblastoma xenografts in mice. Together, our results demonstrate that CK1ε regulates the survival of glioblastoma cells and glioblastoma stem cells through β-catenin signaling, underscoring the importance of targeting CK1ε as an effective treatment for glioblastoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Casein Kinase I / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Casein Kinase I / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy
  • Glioblastoma / enzymology*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Isoenzymes / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phloroglucinol / analogs & derivatives
  • Phloroglucinol / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • 3-(3-chlorophenoxymethyl)-1-(tetrahydropyran-4-yl)-1H-pyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidin-4-ylamine
  • IC 261
  • Indoles
  • Isoenzymes
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • beta Catenin
  • Phloroglucinol
  • Casein Kinase I