ABSTRACT
Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-ß is an important tyrosine kinase and its downregulation has been reported to alter the radiosensitivity of glioma cells, although the underlying mechanism is unclear. In order to investigate the effect of PDGFR-ß on the radiosensitivity of glioblastoma, the present study transfected C6 glioma cells with a PDGFR-ß-specific small interfering (si)RNA expression plasmid, and downregulation of the expression of PDGFR-ß in C6 glioma cells was confirmed by western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. Clone formation assays and xenograft growth curves demonstrated that PDGFR-ß-siRNA enhanced the radiosensitivity of C6 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, MTT and xenograft growth curves demonstrated that PDGFR-ß-siRNA inhibited the proliferation of C6 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that PDGFR-ß-siRNA induced apoptosis and inhibited the expression of Ki-67, cyclin B1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in C6 glioma cell xenografts. Taken together, these results suggested that PDGFR-ß may be used as a target for the radiosensitization of glioblastoma.
