Sperm-associated antigen 9 (SPAG9) is a recently characterized oncoprotein involved in the progression of several human malignancies. The present study aims to investigate the expression pattern and biological roles of SPAG9 protein in human astrocytoma. SPAG9 expression was analyzed in 105 astrocytoma specimens by immunohistochemistry. We observed negative staining in normal astrocytes and positive staining of SPAG9 in 63 out of 105 (60 %) astrocytoma samples. Overexpression of SPAG9 correlated with tumor grade (p < 0.001). Small interfering RNA knockdown was performed in U251 and U87 cell lines with relatively high SPAG9 expression. Using methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay and Matrigel invasion assay, we were able to show that SPAG9 depletion in astrocytoma cell lines inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in both cell lines. In addition, mRNA and protein levels of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) were downregulated, while the levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) and TIMP2 were not changed, indicating that SPAG9 might regulate invasion through MMP9. In conclusion, SPAG9 serves as an important oncoprotein in human astrocytoma by regulating cell proliferation and invasion.

Percutaneous microballoon compression of the trigeminal ganglion is a brand new operative technique for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. However, it is unclear how the procedure mediates pain relief, and there are no standardized criteria, such as compression pressure, compression time or balloon shape, for the procedure. In this study, percutaneous microballoon compression was performed on the rabbit trigeminal ganglion at a mean inflation pressure of 1,005 ± 150 mmHg for 2 or 5 minutes. At 1, 7 and 14 days after percutaneous microballoon compression, the large-diameter myelinated nerves displayed axonal swelling, rupture and demyelination under the electron microscope. Fragmentation of myelin and formation of digestion chambers were more evident after 5 minutes of compression. Image analyzer results showed that the diameter of trigeminal ganglion cells remained unaltered after compression. These experimental findings indicate that a 2-minute period of compression can suppress pain transduction. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the ganglion cells and axons was significantly increased 7 days after trigeminal ganglion compression, however, the changes were similar after 2-minute compression and 5-minute compression. The upregulated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the ganglion cells after percutaneous microballoon compression can promote the repair of the injured nerve. These findings suggest that long-term compression is ideal for patients with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia.

Tbx2 is a cancer-related protein that was found to be overexpressed in several human malignancies. The present study aims to investigate the clinical significance and biological role of Tbx2 in human astrocytoma. We examined its protein expression in 102 cases of astrocytoma tissues using immunohistochemical staining. Negative Tbx2 staining was observed in normal astrocytes, and positive nuclear staining was found in 41 out of 102 astrocytoma specimens. The rate of Tbx2 overexpression in pylocytic astrocytoma, diffuse astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma multiform (GBM) were 0%, 26.1%, 40%, and 52%, respectively. Tbx2 overexpression correlated with poor prognosis in patients with astrocytoma or GBM. Tbx2 plasmid transfection was performed in A172 cells, and Tbx2 siRNA knockdown was carried out in U251 cells. Cell Counting Kit-8, cell cycle analysis, and matrigel invasion assay showed that Tbx2 overexpression upregulated cell proliferation, G1-S transition, and invasion, with corresponding change of cyclin D1, p21, and MMP 2 and 9. Importantly, we demonstrated that Tbx2 reduced apoptosis and conferred resistance to temozolomide in GBM cell lines. Further experiments showed that Tbx2 could regulate mitochondrial fission/fusion balance. Western blot showed that Tbx2 overexpression reduced caspase 3 cleavage, while it induced Bcl-2 and p-Drp1 upregulation. In conclusion, our results indicated that Tbx2 might serve as an indicator for poor prognosis and also be useful as an important therapeutic in human GBM, which inhibits apoptosis through regulation of mitochondrial function.

Girdin, an actin-binding protein, is associated with cell migration and is expressed at high levels in glioma cells. However, the association between girdin and the development of glioma remains to be elucidated. In the present study, short-hairpin RNA technology was used to silence the gene expression of girdin. The effects of girdin silencing on glioma cell proliferation, migration and invasion were then assessed using a cell viability assay, wound-healing assay, transwell invasion assay, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis and gelatin zymography. The results suggested that girdin silencing inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells. In addition, the expression levels and activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were also affected by girdin silencing. Further mechanistic investigation indicated that girdin may regulate glioma cell migration and invasion through the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway. Therefore, the results of the present study provide a theoretical foundation for the development of anticancer drugs.

Abstract. Cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) is a recently characterized oncoprotein involved in the progression of several human malignancies. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and biological function of CIP2A in astrocytoma. CIP2A expression was analyzed in 135 archived astrocytoma specimens using immunohistochemistry. Of these specimens, 75 cases (55.6%) overexpressed CIP2A. The CIP2A overexpression was observed to be positively correlated with advanced tumor grade (P<0.001). siRNA-mediated knockdown of CIP2A was performed in A172 and U87 cell lines. MTT, colony formation and soft agar colony formation assays and Annexin V/propidium iodide analysis were performed to assess the role of CIP2A in cell proliferation and apoptosis. CIP2A depletion in the astrocytoma cell lines inhibited cell growth, reduced anchorage-independent cell growth and increased apoptosis. In addition, CIP2A depletion increased caspase-3 cleavage and downregulated c-Myc, Bcl-2 and phospho-Akt expression. These results validate the role of CIP2A as a clinically relevant oncoprotein and establish CIP2A as a promising therapeutic target of astrocytoma.