SRC Regulates Glioma Proliferation, Migration, Invasion and Cancer Stem-like Cell Self-renewal

Objective To investigate the effects of SRC on the proliferation, migration and stemness of glioblastoma multiforme(GBM), and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods The Oncomine database was used to detect the SRC expression in GBM. shRNA was applied to specifically suppress the expression of SRC in U87MG cells; and the inhibition rate was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, then the stable cell lines were obtained . The effects of SRC shRNA intervention on cell proliferation, migration and invasion were investigated by WST-1, wound-healing test and Transwell migration and invasion test, respectively. In order to examine the effects of SRC on glioma self-renewal, we used stem cell cultures to screen SRC shRNA glioma stem cells. U87MG cells were cultured in serum free medium(SFM) and tumor sphere formation was observed. The expression of stemness-related gene SOX2 was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results SRC expression was increased in glioblastoma specimens compared with the controls. Knockdown of SRC inhibited the migration, invasion, proliferation and cancer stem cell stemness of U87MG cells. Furthermore, down-regulation of SRC expression inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and selfrenewal capacity of U87 glioma stem-like cells, and the expression level of the GSC marker SOX2 was decreased. Conclusion SRC regulates the GBM cell proliferation, migration and glioma stem-like cell selfrenewal, and it regulates the stemness through influencing the expression of SOX2.