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Telomere 3' overhang-specific DNA oligonucleotides induce autophagy in malignant glioma cells

Hiroshi Aoki1, Eiji Iwado, Mark S Eller

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.

FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
|April 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Telomere oligonucleotides (T-oligos) induce nonapoptotic cell death in malignant glioma cells by promoting autophagy. This novel therapeutic strategy shows promise for treating brain tumors, as T-oligos were effective in vivo.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Death Research

Background:

  • Telomere 3' overhang-specific DNA oligonucleotides (T-oligos) are investigated as a potential cancer therapy.
  • T-oligos are thought to induce cancer cell death by disrupting telomere loops.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antitumor mechanisms of T-oligos in human malignant glioma cells.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of T-oligos in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Cell proliferation assays
  • Mitochondrial function analysis
  • Autophagy marker assessment (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 conversion)
  • Western blotting and protein microarray analysis to assess mTOR and STAT3 signaling
  • In vivo survival studies in mice with intracranial glioma xenografts

Main Results:

  • T-oligos inhibited malignant glioma cell proliferation via nonapoptotic cell death and mitochondrial hyperpolarization.
  • Normal astrocytes exhibited resistance to T-oligos.
  • T-oligo treatment induced autophagic features, including autophagic vacuoles and LC3-II conversion.
  • T-oligos suppressed mTOR and STAT3 signaling pathways.
  • T-oligos significantly prolonged survival in a mouse model of malignant glioma.

Conclusions:

  • T-oligos induce nonapoptotic programmed cell death (autophagy) in malignant glioma cells.
  • T-oligos demonstrate therapeutic potential for treating malignant glioma.

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