Vesicle amine transport protein-1 (VAT-1) is upregulated in glioblastomas and promotes migration.
OBJECTIVE
Diffuse invasion of single-glioma cells is the main obstacle to successful therapy of these tumours. After identifying vesicle amine transport protein-1 (VAT-1) as being upregulated in invasive human gliomas, we study its possible function in glioblastoma cell migration.


METHODS
Based on data obtained from previous oligonucleotide arrays, we investigated expression of VAT-1 in glioblastoma tissue and cell lines on mRNA levels using reverse transcriptase PCR. Furthermore, we examined the amount and localization of VAT-1 protein using immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Using small interfering RNA technology we repressed VAT-1 expression in human glioma cell lines and analysed their migration using wound healing and transwell migration assays.


RESULTS
Increased VAT-1 mRNA and protein levels were found in glioblastoma tissues and cell lines compared with normal human brain. Small interfering RNA-mediated VAT-1 knockdown led to significantly reduced migration of human glioma cells.


CONCLUSIONS
VAT-1 is overexpressed in glioblastomas and functionally involved in glioma cell migration, representing a new component involved in glioma invasion
Mertsch
S
S
Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
Becker
M
M
Lichota
A
A
Paulus
W
W
Senner
V
V
D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C544158:VAT1 protein, human; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins