A HIF-independent, CD133-mediated mechanism of cisplatin resistance in glioblastoma cells.

PURPOSE: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the commonest brain tumour in adults. A sub-population of cells within these tumours, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), is thought to mediate their chemo-/radiotherapy resistance. CD133 is a cell surface marker that is used to identify and isolate GBM CSCs. However, its functional significance, as well as the relevant microenvironment in which to study CD133, have so far remained unknown. Here, we examined the effect of hypoxia on the expression of CD133 and on that of the hypoxia-related factors HIF-1α and HIF-2α, and the potential functional significance of CD133 expression on the acquisition of chemo-resistance by GBM cells. METHODS: CD133, HIF-1α, HIF-2α, VEFG and (control) HPRT mRNA expression analyses were carried out on GBM cells (U251, U87 and SNB19; 2D or 3D cultures) under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions, using qRT-PCR. siRNA was used to downregulate CD133, HIF-1α and HIF-2α expression in the GBM cells, which was confirmed by flow cytometry and qRT-PCR, respectively. Drug sensitivity-related IC50 values were established using an Alamar Blue cell viability assay in conjunction with the Graphpad prism software tool. RESULTS: We found that the expression of CD133 was upregulated under hypoxic conditions in both the 2D and 3D GBM cell culture models. In addition, an increased resistance to cisplatin, temozolomide and etoposide was observed in the GBM cells cultured under hypoxic conditions compared to normoxic conditions. siRNA-mediated knockdown of either HIF-1α or HIF-2α resulted in a reduced CD133 expression, with HIF-2α having a more long-term effect. We also found that HIF-2α downregulation sensitized the GBM cells to cisplatin to a greater extent than HIF-1α, whereas CD133 knockdown had a more marked effect on cisplatin sensitisation than knockdown of either one of the HIFs, suggesting the existence of a HIF-independent cisplatin resistance mechanism mediated by CD133. This same mechanism does not seem to be involved in temozolomide resistance, since we found that HIF-1α downregulation, but not HIF-2α or CD133 downregulation, sensitized GBM cells to temozolomide. CONCLUSIONS: From our data we conclude that the mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced CD133-mediated cisplatin resistance may be instrumental for the design of new GBM treatment strategies.

Pediatric brain tumor cancer stem cells: cell cycle dynamics, DNA repair, and etoposide extrusion.

Reliable model systems are needed to elucidate the role cancer stem cells (CSCs) play in pediatric brain tumor drug resistance. The majority of studies to date have focused on clinically distinct adult tumors and restricted tumor types. Here, the CSC component of 7 newly established primary pediatric cell lines (2 ependymomas, 2 medulloblastomas, 2 gliomas, and a CNS primitive neuroectodermal tumor) was thoroughly characterized. Comparison of DNA copy number with the original corresponding tumor demonstrated that genomic changes present in the original tumor, typical of that particular tumor type, were retained in culture. In each case, the CSC component was approximately 3-4-fold enriched in neurosphere culture compared with monolayer culture, and a higher capacity for multilineage differentiation was observed for neurosphere-derived cells. DNA content profiles of neurosphere-derived cells expressing the CSC marker nestin demonstrated the presence of cells in all phases of the cell cycle, indicating that not all CSCs are quiescent. Furthermore, neurosphere-derived cells demonstrated an increased resistance to etoposide compared with monolayer-derived cells, having lower initial DNA damage, potentially due to a combination of increased drug extrusion by ATP-binding cassette multidrug transporters and enhanced rates of DNA repair. Finally, orthotopic xenograft models reflecting the tumor of origin were established from these cell lines. In summary, these cell lines and the approach taken provide a robust model system that can be used to develop our understanding of the biology of CSCs in pediatric brain tumors and other cancer types and to preclinically test therapeutic agents.