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Objective. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT2) plays a multifunctional role in mitochondria (folate-dependent tRNA methylation, translation, and thymidylate synthesis). The endoplasmic reticulum stress, hypoxia, and glucose and glutamine supply are significant factors of malignant tumor growth including glioblastoma. Previous studies have shown that the knockdown of the endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1 (ERN1) pathway of endoplasmic reticulum stress strongly suppressed glioblastoma cell proliferation and modified the sensitivity of these cells to hypoxia and glucose or glutamine deprivations. The present study aimed to investigate the regulation of the SHMT2 gene in U87MG glioblastoma cells by ERN1 knockdown, hypoxia, and glucose or glutamine deprivations with the intent to reveal the role of ERN1 signaling in sensitivity of this gene expression to hypoxia and nutrient supply. Methods. The control U87MG glioblastoma cells (transfected by an empty vector) and ERN1 knockdown cells with inhibited ERN1 endoribonuclease and protein kinase (dnERN1) or only ERN1 endoribonuclease (dnrERN1) were used. Hypoxia was introduced by dimethyloxalylglycine (500 ng/ml for 4 h). For glucose and glutamine deprivations, cells were exposed in DMEM without glucose and glutamine, respectively for 16 h. RNA was extracted from cells and reverse transcribed. The expression level of the SHMT2 gene was studied by real-time qPCR and normalized to ACTB. Results. It was found that inhibition of ERN1 endoribonuclease and protein kinase in glioblastoma cells led to a down-regulation of SHMT2 gene expression in U87MG cells. At the same time, the expression of this gene did not significantly change in cells with inhibited ERN1 endoribonuclease, but tunicamycin strongly increased its expression. Moreover, the expression of the SHMT2 gene was not affected in U87MG cells after silencing of XBP1. Hypoxia up-regulated the expression level of the SHMT2 gene in both control and ERN1 knockdown U87MG cells. The expression of this gene was significantly up-regulated in glioblastoma cells under glucose and glutamine deprivations and ERN1 knockdown significantly increased the sensitivity of the SHMT2 gene to these nutrient deprivation conditions. Conclusion. The results of the present study demonstrate that the expression of the SHMT2 gene responsible for serine metabolism and formation of folate one-carbon is controlled by ERN1 protein kinase and induced by hypoxia as well as glutamine and glucose deprivation conditions in glioblastoma cells and reflects the ERN1-mediated reprogramming of sensitivity this gene expression to nutrient deprivation., (© 2024 Oleksandr H. Minchenko et al., published by Sciendo.)

Objective. Serine synthesis as well as endoplasmic reticulum stress and hypoxia are important factors of malignant tumor growth including glioblastoma. Previous studies have shown that the knockdown of ERN1 (endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling) significantly suppressed the glioblastoma cell proliferation and modified the hypoxia regulation. The present study is aimed to investigate the impact of hypoxia on the expression of PHGDH (phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase), PSAT1 (phosphoserine aminotransferase 1), PSPH (phosphoserine phosphatase), ATF4 (activating transcription factor 4), and SHMT1 (serine hydroxymethyltransferase 1) in U87MG glioblastoma cells in relation to knockdown of ERN1 with the intent to reveal the role of ERN1 signaling pathway on the endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent regulation of expression of these genes. Methods. The control U87MG glioblastoma cells (transfected by empty vector) and ERN1 knockdown cells (transfected by dominant-negative ERN1) were exposed to hypoxia introduced by dimethyloxalylglycine for 4 h. RNA was extracted from cells and reverse transcribed. The expression level of PHGDH , PSAT1 , PDPH , SHMT1 , and ATF4 genes was studied by real-time qPCR and normalized to ACTB. Results. It was found that hypoxia up-regulated the expression level of PHGDH , PSAT1 , and ATF4 genes in control U87MG cells, but PSPH and SHMT1 genes expression was down-regulated. The expression of PHGDH , PSAT1 , and ATF4 genes in glioblastoma cells with knockdown of ERN1 signaling protein was more sensitive to hypoxia, especially PSAT1 gene. At the same time, the expression of PSPH gene in ERN1 knockdown cells was resistant to hypoxia. The expression of SHMT1 gene, encoding the enzyme responsible for conversion of serine to glycine, showed similar negative sensitivity to hypoxia in both control and ERN1 knockdown glioblastoma cells. Conclusion. The results of the present study demonstrate that the expression of genes responsible for serine synthesis is sensitive to hypoxia in gene-specific manner and that ERN1 knockdown significantly modifies the impact of hypoxia on the expression of PHGDH , PSAT1 , PSPH , and ATF4 genes in glioblastoma cells and reflects the ERN1-mediated reprograming of hypoxic regulation at gene expression level., (© 2023 Myroslava Y. Sliusar et al., published by Sciendo.)

Objective. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are considered to be one of the nanomaterials attractive for biomedical applications, particularly in the health sciences as imaging probes and drug carriers, especially in the field of cancer therapy. The increasing exploitation of nanotubes necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of the potential impact of these nanomaterials, which purposefully accumulate in the cell nucleus, on the human health and the function of the genome in the normal and tumor tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity of the expression of DNAJB9 and some other genes associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cell proliferation to low doses of SWCNTs in normal human astrocytes (NHA/TS) and glioblastoma cells (U87MG) with and without an inhibition of ERN1 signaling pathway of the ER stress. Methods. Normal human astrocytes, line NHA/TS and U87 glioblastoma cells stable transfected by empty vector or dnERN1 (dominant-negative construct of ERN1) were exposed to low doses of SWCNTs (2 and 8 ng/ml) for 24 h. RNA was extracted from the cells and used for cDNA synthesis. The expression levels of DNAJB9, TOB1, BRCA1, DDX58, TFPI2, CLU, and P4HA2 mRNAs were measured by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction and normalized to ACTB mRNA. Results. It was found that the low doses of SWCNTs up-regulated the expression of DNAJB9 , TOB1 , BRCA1 , DDX58 , TFPI2 , CLU , and P4HA2 genes in normal human astrocytes in dose-dependent (2 and 8 ng/ml) and gene-specific manner. These nanotubes also increased the expression of most studied genes in control (transfected by empty vector) U87 glioblastoma cells, but with much lesser extent than in NHA/TS. However, the expression of CLU gene in control U87 glioblastoma cells treated with SWCNTs was down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the expression of TOB1 and P4HA2 genes did not significantly change in these glioblastoma cells treated by lower dose of SWCNTs only. At the same time, inhibition of ERN1 signaling pathway of ER stress in U87 glioblastoma cells led mainly to a stronger resistance of DNAJB9 , TOB1 , BRCA1 , DDX58 , TFPI2 , and P4HA2 gene expression to both doses of SWCNTs. Conclusion. The data obtained demonstrate that the low doses of SWCNTs disturbed the genome functions by changing the levels of key regulatory gene expressions in gene-specific and dose-dependent manner, but their impact was much stronger in the normal human astrocytes in comparison with the tumor cells. It is possible that ER stress, which is constantly present in tumor cells and responsible for multiple resistances, also created a partial resistance to the SWCNTs action. Low doses of SWCNTs induced more pronounced changes in the expression of diverse genes in the normal human astrocytes compared to glioblastoma cells indicating for a possible both genotoxic and neurotoxic effects with a greater extent in the normal cells., (© 2023 Dmytro O. Minchenko et al., published by Sciendo.)

Objective. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase genes such as PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, DLD, and PDHX in U87 glioma cells in response to glutamine and glucose deprivations in control glioma cells and endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1 (ERN1) knockdown cells, the major endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling pathway, to find out whether there exists a possible dependence of these important regulatory genes expression on both glutamine and glucose supply as well as ERN1 signaling. Methods. The expression level of PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, DLD, and PDHX genes was studied by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in control U87 glioma cells (transfected by empty vector) and cells with inhibition of ERN1(transfected by dnERN1) after cells exposure to glucose and glutamine deprivations. Results. The data showed that the expression level of PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, and DLD genes was down-regulated (more profound in PDHB gene) in control glioma cells treated with glutamine deprivation. At the same time, ERN1 knockdown modified the impact of glutamine deprivation on the expression level of all these genes in glioma cells: suppressed the sensitivity of PDHB and DLD genes expression and removed the impact of glutamine deprivation on the expression of PDHA1 and DLAT genes. Glucose deprivation did not significantly change the expression level of all studied genes in control glioma cells, but ERN1 knockdown is suppressed the impact of glucose deprivation on PDHX and DLD genes expression and significantly enhanced the expression of PDHA1 and PDHB genes. No significant changes were observed in the sensitivity of PDHX gene expression to glutamine deprivation neither in control nor ERN1 knock-down glioma cells. The knock-down of ERN1 removed the sensitivity of DLAT gene expression to glucose deprivation. Conclusion. The results of this investigation demonstrate that the exposure of control U87 glioma cells under glutamine deprivation significantly affected the expression of PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, and DLD genes in a gene specific manner and that impact of glutamine deprivation was modified by inhibition of the ER stress signaling mediated by ERN1. At the same time, glucose deprivation affected the expression of PDHA1, PDHB, PDHX, and DLD genes in ERN1 knockdown glioma cells only. Thus, the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase genes under glutamine and glucose deprivation conditions appears to be controlled by the ER stress signaling through ERN1., (© 2022 Hanna O. Shatokhina et al., published by Sciendo.)

Objective: The aim of the present investigation was to study the expression of genes encoding polyfunctional proteins insulinase (insulin degrading enzyme, IDE) and pitrilysin metallopeptidase 1 (PITRM1) in U87 glioma cells in response to inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling mediated by ERN1/IRE1 (endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1) for evaluation of their possible significance in the control of metabolism through ERN1 signaling as well as hypoxia, glucose and glutamine deprivations., Methods: The expression level of IDE and PITRM1 genes was studied in control and ERN1 knockdown U87 glioma cells under glucose and glutamine deprivations as well as hypoxia by quantitative polymerase chain reaction., Results: It was found that the expression level of IDE and PITRM1 genes was down-regulated in ERN1 knockdown (without ERN1 protein kinase and endoribonuclease activity) glioma cells in comparison with the control glioma cells, being more significant for PITRM1 gene. We also found up-regulation of microRNA MIR7-2 and MIRLET7A2, which have specific binding sites in 3'-untranslated region of IDE and PITRM1 mRNAs, correspondingly, and can participate in posttranscriptional regulation of these mRNA expressions. Only inhibition of ERN1 endoribonuclease did not change significantly the expression of IDE and PITRM1 genes in glioma cells. The expression of IDE and PITRM1 genes is preferentially regulated by ERN1 protein kinase. We also showed that hypoxia down-regulated the expression of IDE and PITRM1 genes and that knockdown of ERN1 signaling enzyme function modified the response of these gene expressions to hypoxia. Glucose deprivation increased the expression level of IDE and PITRM1 genes, but ERN1 knockdown enhanced only the effect of glucose deprivation on PITRM1 gene expression. Glutamine deprivation did not affect the expression of IDE gene in both types of glioma cells, but up-regulated PITRM1 gene and this up-regulation was stronger in ERN1 knockdown cells., Conclusions: Results of this investigation demonstrate that ERN1 knockdown significantly decreases the expression of IDE and PITRM1 genes by ERN1 protein kinase mediated mechanism. The expression of both studied genes was sensitive to hypoxia as well as glucose deprivation and dependent on ERN1 signaling in gene-specific manner. It is possible that the level of these genes expression under hypoxia and glucose deprivation is a result of complex interaction of variable endoplasmic reticulum stress related and unrelated regulatory factors and contributed to the control of the cell metabolism.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of adipokine NAMPT (nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase) silencing on the expression of genes encoding IRS1 (insulin receptor substrate 1) and some other proliferation related proteins in U87 glioma cells for evaluation of the possible significance of this adipokine in intergenic interactions., Methods: The silencing of NAMPT mRNA was introduced by NAMPT specific siRNA. The expression level of NAMPT, IGFBP3, IRS1, HK2, PER2, CLU, BNIP3, TPD52, GADD45A, and MKI67 genes was studied in U87 glioma cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Anti-visfatin antibody was used for detection of NAMPT protein by Western-blot analysis., Results: It was shown that the silencing of NAMPT mRNA led to a strong down-regulation of NAMPT protein and significant modification of the expression of IRS1, IGFBP3, CLU, HK2, BNIP3, and MKI67 genes in glioma cells and a strong up-regulation of IGFBP3 and IRS1 and down-regulation of CLU, BNIP3, HK2, and MKI67 gene expressions. At the same time, no significant changes were detected in the expression of GADD45A, PER2, and TPD52 genes in glioma cells treated by siRNA specific to NAMPT. Furthermore, the silencing of NAMPT mRNA suppressed the glioma cell proliferation., Conclusions: Results of this investigation demonstrated that silencing of NAMPT mRNA with corresponding down-regulation of NAMPT protein and suppression of the glioma cell proliferation affected the expression of IRS1 gene as well as many other genes encoding the proliferation related proteins. It is possible that dysregulation of most of the studied genes in glioma cells after silencing of NAMPT is reflected by a complex of intergenic interactions and that NAMPT is an important factor for genome stability and regulatory mechanisms contributing to the control of glioma cell metabolism and proliferation.

We have studied hypoxic regulation of the expression of genes encoded GADD (growth arrest and DNA damage) family proteins in U87 glioma cells in relation to inhibition of IRE1 (inositol requiring enzyme-1), which controls cell proliferation and tumor growth as a central mediator of endoplasmic reticulum stress. We have shown that hypoxia up-regulates the expression of GADD34, GADD45A, GADD45B, and GADD153 genes, which are related to cell proliferation and apoptosis, in control (transfected by empty vector) glioma cells in gene specific manner. At the same time, the expression level of EIF2AK 1 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha kinase 1) and AI FM1 (apoptosis inducing factor, mitochondria associated 1) genes in these cells is down-regulated upon hypoxic condition. It was also shown that inhibition of ІRE1 signaling enzyme function in U87 glioma cells enhances the effect of hypoxia on these genes expression, except EIF2AK 1 and AI FM1 genes. Furthermore, the expression of all studied genes in ІRE1 knockdown cells is significantly decreased upon normoxic condition, except GADD45B gene, which expression level is strongly up-regulated. Therefore, the expression level of genes encoding GADD34, GADD45A, GADD45B, GADD153, EIF2AK 1, and AI FM1 is affected by hypoxia and by inhibition of IRE1-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling in gene specific manner and correlates with suppression of glioma cell proliferation upon inhibition of the IRE1 enzyme function.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress and hypoxia are necessary components of malignant tumors growth and suppression of ERN1 (from endoplasmic reticulum to nuclei-1) signalling pathway, which is linked to the apoptosis and cell death processes, significantly decreases proliferative processes. Glioma cells with ERN1 knockdown were used in order to investigate the effect of ERNI blockade on the expression of TP53, MDM2, PERP, and USP7 genes and its hypoxic regulation. We have studied the expression of TP53 (tumor protein 53), MDM2 (TP53 E3 ubiquitin protein ligase homolog), PERP (TP53 apoptosis effector), and USP7 (ubiquitin specific peptidase 7) genes, which are related to cell proliferation and apoptosis, in glioma cells with ERN1 knockdown under hypoxic condition. It was shown that blockade of ERNI gene function in U87 glioma cells intensified the expression of TP53 and USP7 genes, but decreased the expression ofMDM2 and PERP genes. Thus, an enhanced expression of TP53 gene in ERN1 knockdown glioma cells correlates with the decreased level of ubiquitin ligase MDM2 and increased expression level of USP7 which deubiquitinates TP53 and MDM2 and induces TP53-dependent cell growth repression and apoptosis. At the same time, the expression levels of TP53, MDM2, and USP7 genes do not change significantly in glioma cells with suppression of endoribonuclease activity only, but PERP gene expression is strongly increased. Moreover, the expression of TP53 and UPS7 genes is decreased in hypoxic conditions in control glioma cells only; however, MDM2 and PERP gene expressions are increased in both cell types, being more significant in ERN1 knockdown cells. Thus, the expression of genes encoding TP53 and related to TP53 factors depends upon the endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling as well as on hypoxia, and correlates with suppression of glioma growth under ERN1 knockdown.

We have studied the effect of acute L-glutamine deprivation on the expression oftumor protein 53 (TP53)-related genes such as TOPORS (topoisomerase I binding, arginine/serine-rich, E3 ubiquitin protein ligase), TP53BPI (TP53 bindingprotein 1), TP53TG1 (TP53 inducible gene 1), SESN1 (p53 regulatedPA26 nuclear protein), NME6 (NME/NM23 nucleoside diphosphate kinase 6), and ZMAT3 (zinc finger Matrin-type 3) in glioma cells with ERN1 knockdown. It was shown that blockade of ERN1 finction in U87 glioma cells is induced the expression of RYBP and SESN1 genes, but decreased the expression of TP53BP1, TP53TG1, TOPORS, NME6, genes. Moreover, the expression levels ofRYBPI SESN1, TP53BP1, and ZMAT3 genes is increased in control glioma cells by L-glutamine deprivation condition but blockade of ERN1 signaling enzyme function significantly enhances this effect on the expression all of these genes. At the same time, the ERN1 knockdown eliminates the response TP53TG1 and TOPORS genes to L-glutamine deprivation condition. Results of this investigation clearly demonstrate that the expression most of genes encoding TP53-related factors depends upon acute L-glutamine deprivation condition as well as upon ERN1, the major signaling system of the endoplasmic reticulum stress.