title: The small GTPase Rac1 is involved in the maintenance of stemness and malignancies in glioma stem-like cells.
abstract: A subpopulation of cancer cells with stem cell properties is responsible for tumor formation, maintenance, and malignant progression; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of cancer stem-like cell properties have remained unclear. Here, we show that the Rho family GTPase Rac1 is involved in the glioma stem-like cell (GSLC) maintenance and tumorigenicity in human glioma. The Rac1-Pak signaling was markedly activated in GSLCs. Knockdown of Rac1 caused reduction of expression of GSLC markers, self-renewal-related proteins and neurosphere formation. Moreover, down-regulation of Rac1 suppressed the migration, invasion, and malignant transformation in GSLCs. Furthermore, inhibition of Rac1 enhanced radiation sensitivity of GSLCs. These results indicate that the small GTPase Rac1 is involved in the maintenance of stemness and malignancies in GSLCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Kyung-Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Rae-Kwon
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hee-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Sungkwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Myung-Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yongjoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Min-Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Su-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein