title: CXCR4 expression mediates glioma cell invasiveness.
abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly invasive tumor bearing a dismal prognosis. Experimental strategies that focus on the specific biological cues governing the invasive capacity of these tumors may hold significant therapeutic promise. In this context, we describe the in vitro and in vivo association of the cell surface chemokine receptor, CXCR4, with the development of an invasive phenotype in malignant glioblastoma. We demonstrate that invasive populations of glioma cells overexpress CXCR4 at the message and protein levels, and that this expression ranges from 25- to 89-fold higher than that found in noninvasive tumor cells. Furthermore, neutralization of CXCR4 significantly impairs the in vitro invasive capacity of malignant glial cells. In addition, glioma cells secrete CXCL12 and demonstrate robust invasive capacity toward a CXCL12 gradient in vitro. These findings underscore the importance of CXCR4 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of invasive glioblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-2380, USA. moneeb.ehtesham@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehtesham
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Winston
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kabos
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D007834:Lasers; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; C486264:Cxcr4 protein, rat; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen