2. Academic Validation
  3. Doublecortin regulates the mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in glioma via Rho-A/Net-1/p38-MAPK signaling

Doublecortin regulates the mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in glioma via Rho-A/Net-1/p38-MAPK signaling

  • Mol Med. 2024 Dec 24;30(1):272. doi: 10.1186/s10020-024-01021-4.
Iqra Nadeem # 1,  Zhou Han # 1,  Hong Xiaoliang 1,  Seyram Yao Adzraku 2,  Piniel Alphayo Kambey 1,  Kouminin Kanwore 1,  Mu Peipei 3,  Adebayo Oluwafemi Adekunle 4,  Joseph Adu-Amankwaah 4,  Abiola Abdulrahman Ayanlaja 5,  Yi Zheng 6,  Gao Dianshuai 7,  Xiaomei Liu 8,  Yuanjian Song 9 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 209, Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
  • 2 Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221002, China.
  • 3 Institute of Nervous System Diseases, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221002, China.
  • 4 Department of Physiology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China.
  • 5 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 201 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
  • 6 Department of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
  • 7 Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 209, Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, 221004, China. gds@xzhmu.edu.cn.
  • 8 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China. lxmlxm_hi@xzhmu.edu.cn.
  • 9 Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical University, 209, Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, 221004, China. yjsong@xzhmu.edu.cn.
  • 10 Xuzhou Engineering Research Center of Medical Genetics and Transformation, Key Laboratory of Genetic Foundation and Clinical Application, Department of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China. yjsong@xzhmu.edu.cn.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 39719558 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-024-01021-4
Abstract

Doublecortin (DCX) is a microtubule-associated protein known to be a key regulator of neuronal migration and differentiation during brain development. However, the role of DCX, particularly in regulating the survival and growth of glioma cells, remains unclear. In this study, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knock down DCX in the human glioma cell line (U251). DCX depletion suppressed cell proliferation and enhanced the pro-apoptotic effects of temozolomide (TMZ) and γ-radiation treatment. DCX knockdown led to the translocation of Bax to the mitochondria and mitochondria dysfunction. Furthermore, DCX deficiency-induced Apoptosis took place along with the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which is crucial in triggering mitochondrial membrane depolarization, the release of cytochrome c (Cyt-c), and Caspase activation. Importantly, the transcriptional inhibition of DCX downregulated Rho-A, Net-1, and activated p38-MAPK cue, critical for cell survival and proliferation. Subsequent treatment with TMZ and γ-radiation further increased p38-MAPK activity through the decreased expression of Rho-A/Net-1, resulting in a significant reduction in glioma cell migration and invasion. Additionally, intracranial xenograft tumors of DCX-modified U251 cells in nude mice demonstrated inhibited tumor growth. Tumor sections treated with TMZ and γ-radiation exhibited a higher number of TUNEL-positive cells compared to the control group, indicating increased Apoptosis. Our finding suggests that DCX depletion reduces glioma cell proliferation and promotes mitochondria-dependent Apoptosis by enhancing the chemo and radiotherapy response. Targeting DCX represents a potential therapeutic target for glioma treatment.

Keywords

Apoptosis; CRISPR/Cas 9; Doublecortin; Glioma; Mitochondria.

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