Effects of Nrf2 expression in primary brain tumors with clinical significance

• Main Authors: Wen-Chiuan Tsai, 蔡文銓
• Other Authors: 楊重光
• Format: Others
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/zg7y8x

博士 === 國立臺北科技大學 === 工程學院工程科技博士班 === 105 === Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is associated with cellular progression and chemotherapeutic resistance in some human cancers. In order to realize Nrf2 protein expression in gliomas, Western blot analysis was performed in normal brain tissue and U87MG, LN229, GBM8401 and U118MG glioma cell lines protein lysates. Subsequently, U87MG, LN229, and GBM8401 mRNA were applied to perform quantitative analysis on RT-PCR for the detection of Nrf2 gene expression in glioma cell lines. At last, immunohistochemical analysis was used to determine the expression of Nrf2 in samples from 178 PBTs and 10 non-neoplastic brain tissues. In these studies, both Nrf2 protein and mRNA expression in all human glioma cell lines were higher than those of normal brain tissue. Similarly, on the viewpoint of immunohistochemistry, Nrf2 expressions in gliomas were positively correlated with World Health Organization (WHO) grades. Additionally, compared with the expression of Nrf2 in non-neoplastic brain tissue, the expression in meningiomas has stronger intensity and was presented in a higher percentage of cells. Furthermore, scores were significantly higher in WHO grade II than in WHO grade I meningiomas. As a result, the suppression of Nrf2 expression effectively slowed down glioma cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and promoted tumor apoptosis. In conclusion, Nrf2 overexpression positively correlated with WHO grade in gliomas and meningiomas. On the other hand, Nrf2 immunohistochemical stain could help pathologists to differentiate atypical meningiomas from benign tumors. Therefore, Nrf2 might represent a potential therapeutic target to improve the tumor progression in glioma patients.