Purpose Anlotinib protects against carcinogenesis through the induction of autophagy and apoptosis. The current study evaluated the role and molecular mechanisms of anlotinib in glioblastoma, and the effects of anlotinib in combination with temozolomide (TMZ). Methods Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony-forming assays were used to evaluate cell viability. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by wound-healing, Transwell migration, and Matrigel invasion assays. Cellular apoptosis and cell cycle analysis were determined by flow cytometry. Angiogenesis was assessed using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Protein expression was determined by western blotting or immunofluorescence staining. The in vivo anti-glioblastoma effect was assessed with live imaging of tumor xenografts in nude mice. Results Anlotinib restricted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioblastoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Tumor supernatant from glioblastoma cells treated with anlotinib inhibited angiogenesis in HUVECs. Anlotinib induced autophagy in glioblastoma cells by increasing Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) levels. Mechanistically, anlotinib inhibited the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/VEGFA signaling pathway. STAT3 inhibition by S3I-201 decreased VEGFA and suppressed cellular proliferation and movement. TMZ enhanced the anti-glioblastoma ability of anlotinib. Finally, anlotinib inhibited tumor growth and JAK2/STAT3/VEGFA signaling in xenografts. Conclusion Anlotinib exerts anti-glioblastoma activity possibly through the JAK2/STAT3/VEGFA signaling pathway. TMZ potentiated the anti-glioblastoma effect of anlotinib via the same signaling pathway, indicating the potential application of anlotinib as a treatment option for glioblastoma.

Accumulating evidences indicate that long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) promotes the progression of glioma. In this study, we postulated that NEAT1 may act as a miR-128-3p sponge. Relative levels of NEAT1 and miR-128-3p expression in human glioma samples and GBM cells were detected using quantitative real-time PCR. By means of CCK-8 assays, transwell assays, and flow cytometric analysis, the biological functions of miR-128-3p and NEAT1 were investigated in U87MG and U251MG human GBM cell lines with stable miR-128-3p and NEAT1 knockdown or overexpression. The luciferase reports, RNA pull-down assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were conducted to determine the relevance of NEAT1 and miR-128-3p in glioma. As a result, high expression of NEAT1 and lack of miR-128-3p were observed in glioma specimens and cells. By binding to anti-oncogene miR-128-3p in the nucleus, NEAT1 enhanced tumorigenesis and glioma development. Further experiments suggested that ITGA5 expression was increased in glioma tissues and was found to be connected with miR-128-3p. Additionally, NEAT1 facilitated ITGA5 expression via competitively binding to miR-128-3p. For this reason, ITGA5 would not be decomposed by miR-128-3p and could activate FAK signaling pathway, thereby promoting cell growth. Collectively, these results indicated that the NEAT1/miR-128-3p/ITGA5 axis was involved in glioma initiation and progression, and might offer a potential novel strategy for treatment of glioma.