title: Expression of delta-catenin is associated with progression of human astrocytoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  δ-Catenin (CTNND2), which encodes a scaffold protein in humans, has been found in a few malignancies. However, the expression pattern and contribution of δ-catenin to astrocytoma progression are unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated δ-catenin expression in human astrocytoma samples and its function in astrocytoma cell lines using immunohistochemistry, siRNA knockdown, transfection, MTT, transwell migration and Rac1 pulldown techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  δ-Catenin protein expression was detected in cytoplasm of astrocytoma cells by immunohistochemistry. Analysis showed that grade I astrocytoma (0%, 0/11) and glial cells from normal brain tissue exhibited negative staining. δ-Catenin expression was significantly higher in grade III-IV (35%, 29/84) compared to grade II astrocytoma cells (18%, 11/61); p < 0.01). In addition, CTNND2 overexpression promoted proliferation, invasion and Rac1 activity of U251 astrocytoma cells. Treatment of δ-catenin-transfected cells with a Rac1 inhibitor decreased Rac1 activity and invasion. δ-Catenin knockdown in U87 glioblastoma cell decreased cell proliferation, invasion and Rac1 activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that δ-catenin expression is associated with the malignant progression of astrocytoma and promotes astrocytoma cell invasion through upregulation of Rac1 activity. δ-Catenin expression levels may serve as a useful marker of the biological behavior of astrocytoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, PR China. wangyunjiepaper@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: MingHao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qianze
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: YunJie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051177:Catenins / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000095002:Delta Catenin
chemical_list: D051177:Catenins; C107953:RAC1 protein, human; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein; D000095002:Delta Catenin; C000722348:CTNND2 protein, human