A role for the transcription factor HEY1 in glioblastoma.

Esther Hulleman, Micaela Quarto, Richard Vernell, Giacomo Masserdotti, Elena Colli, Johan M Kros, Daniel Levi, Paolo Gaetani, Patrizia Tunici, Gaetano Finocchiaro, Riccardo Rodriguez Y Baena, Maria Capra, Kristian Helin

    59 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the highest-grade glioma, is the most frequent tumour of the brain with a very poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Although little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie glioblastoma formation, a number of signal transduction routes, such as the Notch and Ras signalling pathways, seem to play an important role in the formation of GBM. In the present study, we show by in situ hybridization on primary tumour material that the transcription factor HEY1, a target of the Notch signalling pathway, is specifically upregulated in glioma and that expression of HEY1 in GBM correlates with tumour-grade and survival. In addition, we show by chromatin immunoprecipitations, luciferase assays and Northern blot experiments that HEY1 is a bona fide target of the E2F family of transcription factors, connecting the Ras and Notch signalling pathways. Finally, we show that ectopic expression of HEY1 induces cell proliferation in neural stem cells, while depletion of HEY1 by RNA interference reduces proliferation of glioblastoma cells in tissue culture. Together, these data imply a role for HEY1 in the progression of GBM, and therefore we propose that HEY1 may be a therapeutic target for glioblastoma patients. Moreover, HEY1 may represent a molecular marker to distinguish GBM patients with a longer survival prognosis from those at high risk.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
    Volume13
    Issue number1
    Pages (from-to)136-46
    Number of pages10
    ISSN1582-1838
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jan 2009

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