title: 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB3) is up-regulated in high-grade astrocytomas.
abstract: The bifunctional enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2) controls the glycolytic flux via the allosteric activator fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Because of its proto-oncogenic character, the PFK-2/FBPase-2 of the PFKFB3 gene is assumed to play a critical role in tumorigenesis. We investigated the PFKFB3 expression in 40 human astrocytic gliomas and 20 non-neoplastic brain tissue specimens. The PFKFB3 protein levels were markedly elevated in high-grade astrocytomas relative to low-grade astrocytomas and corresponding non-neoplastic brain tissue, whereas no significant increase of PFKFB3 mRNA was observed in high-grade astrocytomas when compared with control tissue. In the group of glioblastomas the PFKFB3 protein inversely correlates with EGFR expression. The findings demonstrate that PFKFB3 up-regulation is a hallmark of high-grade astrocytomas offering an explanation for high glycolytic flux and lactate production in these tumors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bleichert
authors.forename: Jan-Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Warnke
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eschrich
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D025481:Phosphofructokinase-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*