The Protein L-Isoaspartyl (D-Aspartyl) Methyltransferase Regulates Glial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Migration Induced by TGF-ß1 in Human U-87 MG Glioma Cells.

The enzyme PIMT methylates abnormal aspartyl residues in proteins. U-87 MG cells are commonly used to study the most frequent brain tumor, glioblastoma. Previously, we reported that PIMT isoform I possessed oncogenic features when overexpressed in U-87 MG and U-251 MG glioma cells. Higher levels of wild-type PIMT stimulated migration and invasion in both glioma cell lines. Conversely, PIMT silencing reduced these migratory abilities of both cell lines. These results indicate that PIMT could play a critical role in glioblastoma growth. Here, we investigated for the first time, molecular mechanisms involving PIMT in the regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) upon TGF-ß1 treatments. Gene array analyses indicated that EMT genes but not PIMT gene were regulated in U-87 MG cells treated with TGF-ß1. Importantly, PIMT silencing by siRNA inhibited in vitro migration in U-87 MG cells induced by TGF-ß1. In contrast, overexpressed wild-type PIMT and TGF-ß1 had additive effects on cell migration. When PIMT was inhibited by siRNA, this prevented Slug induction by TGF-ß1, while Snail stimulation by TGF-ß1 was increased. Indeed, overexpression of wild-type PIMT led to the opposite effects on Slug and Snail expression dependent on TGF-ß1. These data highlighted the importance of PIMT in the EMT response dependent on TGF-ß1 in U-87 MG glioma cells by an antagonist regulation in the expression of transcription factors Slug and Snail, which are critical players in EMT.

The enzyme L-isoaspartyl (D-aspartyl) methyltransferase promotes migration and invasion in human U-87 MG and U-251 MG glioblastoma cell lines.

The protein L-isoaspartyl (D-aspartyl) methyltransferase (PIMT) recognizes abnormal L-isoaspartyl and D-aspartyl residues in proteins. Among examined tissues, PIMT shows the highest level in the brain. The U-87 MG cell line is a commonly used cellular model to study the most frequent brain tumor, glioblastoma. Previously, we reported that PIMT amount increased when U-87 MG cells were detached from the extracellular matrix. Recently, we also showed that PIMT possessed pro-angiogenic properties. Together, these PIMT features led us to postulate that PIMT could play a critical role in glioblastoma growth. Here, we investigate PIMT role in U-87 MG cell viability, adhesion, migration, invasion, and colony formation and in the reorganization of the actin and tubulin cytoskeleton. PIMT inhibition by siRNA significantly reduced in vitro cell migration and invasion in various assays, including wound-healing assay, Boyden chambers coated with gelatin and Matrigel invasion assay. Conversely, in stably transfected U-87 MG cells overexpressing wild-type PIMT, cell migration, invasive capacity and colony formation significantly increased. However, in stably transfected cells with the gene encoding for mutated PIMT(D83V), despite of its overexpression, migration and invasion remained similar to those observed in control cells. In all these conditions, cell viability was unaffected. Importantly, overexpressed wild-type PIMT and mutated PIMT(D83V) have opposite effects on the organization of microtubules and actin cytoskeleton and thus on morphology of U-87 cells. These data highlighted the importance of PIMT level and its catalytic activity in migration and invasion of U-87 glioma cells and its possible contribution in cancer invasion during glioma growth.