Background: Acquired drug resistance is a constraining factor in clinical treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). However, the mechanisms of chemoresponsive tumors acquire therapeutic resistance remain poorly understood. Here, we aim to investigate whether temozolomide (TMZ) resistance of chemoresponsive GBM was enhanced by long noncoding RNA SBF2 antisense RNA 1 (lncRNA SBF2-AS1) enriched exosomes. Method: LncSBF2-AS1 level in TMZ-resistance or TMZ-sensitive GBM tissues and cells were analyzed by qRT-PCR and FISH assays. A series of in vitro assay and xenograft tumor models were performed to observe the effect of lncSBF2-AS1 on TMZ-resistance in GBM. CHIP assay were used to investigate the correlation of SBF2-AS1 and transcription factor zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1). Dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), immunofluorescence and western blotting were performed to verify the relation between lncSBF2-AS1, miR-151a-3p and XRCC4. Comet assay and immunoblotting were performed to expound the effect of lncSBF2-AS1 on DNA double-stand break (DSB) repair. A series of in vitro assay and intracranial xenografts tumor model were used to determined the function of exosomal lncSBF2-AS1. Result: It was found that SBF2-AS1 was upregulated in TMZ-resistant GBM cells and tissues, and overexpression of SBF2-AS1 led to the promotion of TMZ resistance, whereas its inhibition sensitized resistant GBM cells to TMZ. Transcription factor ZEB1 was found to directly bind to the SBF2-AS1 promoter region to regulate SBF2-AS1 level and affected TMZ resistance in GBM cells. SBF2-AS1 functions as a ceRNA for miR-151a-3p, leading to the disinhibition of its endogenous target, X-ray repair cross complementing 4 (XRCC4), which enhances DSB repair in GBM cells. Exosomes selected from temozolomide-resistant GBM cells had high levels of SBF2-AS1 and spread TMZ resistance to chemoresponsive GBM cells. Clinically, high levels of lncSBF2-AS1 in serum exosomes were associated with poor response to TMZ treatment in GBM patients. Conclusion: We can conclude that GBM cells remodel the tumor microenvironment to promote tumor chemotherapy-resistance by secreting the oncogenic lncSBF2-AS1-enriched exosomes. Thus, exosomal lncSBF2-AS1 in human serum may serve as a possible diagnostic marker for therapy-refractory GBM.

Background: Accumulating evidence shows that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulator molecules involved in diverse biological processes. Acquired drug resistance is a major challenge in the clinical treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), and lncRNAs have been shown to play a role in chemotherapy resistance. However, the underlying mechanisms by which lncRNA mediates TMZ resistance in GBM remain poorly characterized. Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization assays were used to detect small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) levels in TMZ-sensitive and TMZ-resistant GBM cells and tissues. The effects of SNHG12 on TMZ resistance were investigated through in vitro assays (western blots, colony formation assays, flow cytometry assays, and TUNEL assays). The mechanism mediating the high expression of SNHG12 in TMZ-resistant cells and its relationships with miR-129-5p, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), and E2F transcription factor 7 (E2F7) were determined by bioinformatic analysis, bisulfite amplicon sequencing, methylation-specific PCR, dual luciferase reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, RNA immunoprecipitation assays, immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and western blot. For in vivo experiments, an intracranial xenograft tumor mouse model was used to investigate SNHG12 function. Results: SNHG12 was upregulated in TMZ-resistant cells and tissues. Overexpression of SNHG12 led to the development of acquired TMZ resistance, while knockdown of SNHG12 restored TMZ sensitivity. An abnormally low level of DNA methylation was detected within the promoter region of SNHG12, and loss of DNA methylation made this region more accessible to the Sp1 transcription factor (SP1); this indicated that methylation and SP1 work together to regulate SNHG12 expression. In the cytoplasm, SNHG12 served as a sponge for miR-129-5p, leading to upregulation of MAPK1 and E2F7 and endowing the GBM cells with TMZ resistance. Disinhibition of MAPK1 regulated TMZ-induced cell apoptosis and the G1/S cell cycle transition by activating the MAPK/ERK pathway, while E2F7 dysregulation was primarily associated with G1/S cell cycle transition. Clinically, SNHG12 overexpression was associated with poor survival of GBM patients undergoing TMZ treatment. Conclusion: Our results suggest that SNHG12 could serve as a promising therapeutic target to surmount TMZ resistance, thereby improving the clinical efficacy of TMZ chemotherapy.

Dominant Vγ2Vδ2 T-cell subset recognizes phosphoantigen, and exist only in humans and nonhuman primates. Despite the discovery of γδ T cells for >30 years, a proof-of-concept (POC) study has not been done to prove the principle that Vγ2Vδ2 T-cell subset is protective against M. tuberculosis (Mtb) and other infections. Here, we employed adoptive cell transfer strategy to define protective role for Vγ2Vδ2 T cells in primate TB model. Vγ2Vδ2 T cells for adoptive transfer displayed central/effector memory and mounted effector functions of producing anti-Mtb cytokines and inhibiting intracellular mycobacteria. They also expressed CXCR3/CCR5/LFA-1 trafficking/tissue-resident phenotypes and consistently trafficked to the airway and retained there detectable from 6 hours through 7 days after adoptive transfer. Interestingly, the test group of macaques receiving transfer of Vγ2Vδ2 T cells at weeks 1 and 3 after high-dose 500 CFU Mtb infection exhibited significantly lower levels of Mtb infection burdens in lung lobes and extra-pulmonary organs than the control groups receiving PBL or saline. Consistently, adoptive transfer of Vγ2Vδ2 T cells attenuated TB pathology and contained lesions mostly in the infection-site of right caudal lung lobe, with no or reduced TB dissemination to other lobes, spleens or livers/kidneys whereas the controls showed widespread TB dissemination. The POC finding supports the view that dominant Vγ2Vδ2 T-cell subset may be included for the rational design of TB vaccine or host-directed therapy.