TRIM66 Overexpression Promotes Glioma Progression and Regulates Glucose Uptake Through cMyc/GLUT3 Signaling

Tripartite motif 66 (TRIM66) is reported to be closely associated with human cancers. However, the roles of TRIM66 in glioma remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and biological roles of TRIM66 in human glioma.

TRIM66 expression in glioma tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry. TRIM66 overexpression and siRNA knockdown were performed in glioblastoma cell lines. CCK8, colony formation assay, transwell assay, Annexin V and JC1 staining, glucose uptake assay, and Western blotting were used to explore the biological roles and potential underlying mechanisms of TRIM66 in glioma progression.

Our results showed that TRIM66 was overexpressed in 52/95 glioma cases. The rates of TRIM66 overexpression in Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, and Grade IV gliomas were 16.6%, 41.3%, 58.6%, and 70.9%, respectively. Oncomine data showed that TRIM66 was upregulated in glioblastoma and oligodendroglioma compared with normal brain tissues. TRIM66 expression was higher in glioblastoma cell lines compared with normal SVG p12 glial cell line. TRIM66 promoted in vitro and in vivo proliferation, invasion, and inhibited temozolomide (TMZ)-induced apoptosis. Notably, TRIM66 increased glucose metabolism by upregulating glucose uptake, glucose consumption, and ATP production. Western blotting showed that TRIM66 positively regulated cMyc and GLUT3. Depletion of cMyc by siRNA abolished the effect of TRIM66 on GLUT3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that cMyc could bind to the promoter regions of GLUT3 in glioblastoma cells.

TRIM66 was upregulated in human gliomas, where it promoted cell growth and chemoresistance. Our data also identified novel roles of TRIM66 in glioma progression. TRIM66 upregulates glucose uptake and mitochondrial function through the cMyc/GLUT3 signaling, which makes it a potential therapeutic target.