Reduced expression of LC3B-II and Beclin 1 in glioblastoma multiforme indicates a down-regulated autophagic capacity that relates to the progression of astrocytic tumors.
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) and the autophagy-related gene Beclin 1 in astrocytic tumors and to analyze their expression profiles with respect to the development of astrocytic tumors. The expression patterns of LC3B and Beclin 1 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and/or western blotting in tumor samples from 62 patients with different grades of astrocytic tumor. The expression patterns of LC3B and Beclin 1 were correlated with the pathological and clinical characteristics of the patients. Western blot analysis indicated that the average optical densitometry (OD) ratio of Beclin 1 in high-grade astrocytic tumors (World Health Organization [WHO] grade III/IV) was lower than in low-grade astrocytic tumors (WHO grade I/II, p = 0.036). The expression of LC3B-I exhibited no significant difference among the various grades of astrocytic tumor. However, the average OD ratio of LC3B-II was lower in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) than in other grades of astrocytic tumor (p = 0.030). The expression levels of Beclin 1 and LC3B-II were related to survival time and they were also correlated with each other (p = 0.035). In addition, down-regulation of LC3B-II and Beclin 1 expression was associated with GBM. The progression of astrocytic tumors was related to a decrease in autophagic capacity represented by the loss of LC3B-II and Beclin 1 expression.
Huang
Xin
X
Department of Neurosurgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Affiliated Hospital of Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China.
Bai
Hong-Min
HM
Chen
Liang
L
Li
Bin
B
Lu
Yi-Cheng
YC
D000328:Adult; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001343:Autophagy; D000071186:Beclin-1; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; C477012:MAP1LC3A protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins