AHNAK as a Prognosis Factor Suppresses the Tumor Progression in Glioma

AHNAK is originally identified as a giant protein based on the estimated size of approximately 700 kDa. The aim of this study is to identify the role of AHNAK in the pathogenesis of glioma.

We tested AHNAK mRNA level in a panel of six human glioma cell lines, and in 30 cases of normal brain tissues and 73 cases of glioma tissue samples using a qRT-PCR method. Further, we analyzed the relationship of AHNAK expression with clinicopathological characteristics in glioma patients. Meanwhile, we analyzed the relationship of expression of AHNAK and survival of glioma patients in survival analyses. Then, in vitro, we analyzed the biological effects of AHNAK in glioma cell lines (U87 and U251) including proliferation assay, cell transwell assay, and apoptosis. And in vivo, we examined the effects of AHNAK on tumor growth using xenograft model of human glioma cells in nude mice. Then we examined the expression of Ki-67-positive cells in these tumors.

We found that the mRNA levels of AHNAK were down-regulated in 4 of 6 human glioma cell lines, especially in U87 and U251 cell lines. Meanwhile, in glioma patients, a negative correlation was found between the expression of AHNAK and the glioma histopathology. And a low expression of AHNAK was a significant and independent prognostic factor for poor survival of glioma patients. Through over expression of AHNAK in both of U87 and U251, we demonstrated that overexpression of AHNAK could inhibit glioma cell proliferation and invasion, induce apoptosis, and inhibit in vivo glioma tumor growth and ki-67 expression.

The AHNAK acts as a potential tumor suppressor. Our study provides a preclinical basis for developing AHNAK as a reliable clinical prognostic indicator for glioma patients, and a new biomarker for treatment response, and a potentially therapeutic target in glioma management options.