Effect of the interference with DRP1 expression on the biological characteristics of glioma stem cells

Exp Ther Med. 2021 Jul;22(1):696. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10128. Epub 2021 May 2.

Abstract

In the present study, a model of glioma stem cells (GSCs) was established and combined with molecular targeting drugs in order to observe its inhibitory effect on the proliferation and biological characteristics of GSCs, with the aim of providing a potential target for the treatment of glioma. On the basis of a relatively classical induction strategy with neuron induction medium, a large number of GSC-like cells in good condition and globular growth were amplified in vitro, which had the potential to differentiate into neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes/glioma cells. It was observed that the interference with dynamin-related protein 1 expression using Mdivi-1, a mitochondrial mitotic inhibitor, at the optimal concentration, decreased the expression level of stem cell-associated genes, inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in GSCs. The present study provided an experimental basis for a novel strategy of cancer treatment with tumor stem cells as the target.

Keywords: DRP1; glioma stem cells; mitochondrial fission.

Grants and funding

Funding: The present study was funded by grants from the Ningxia Medical University School-level Scientific Research Project (grant no. XT2018013) and Ningxia High School First-class Disciplines (West China Top Class Discipline Project in Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University; grant no. NXYLXK2017B07).