Hypoxia differentially upregulates the expression of embryonic, fetal and adult hemoglobin in human glioblastoma cells

  • Authors:
    • Marwan Emara
    • A. Robert Turner
    • Joan Allalunis-Turner
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 31, 2013     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.2239
  • Pages: 950-958
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Hemoglobin is produced mainly in erythroid cells. However, it has been reported in non-erythroid cells of human and rodents. We have shown previously that neuroglobin, cytoglobin and hemoglobin are expressed in human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. We sought to determine whether hemoglobin expression is upregulated by hypoxia, and whether its expression is restricted to the cancer stem cell populations in different GBM cell lines or GBM brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs). Flow cytometry, magnetic cell sorting and qRT-PCR were used to examine the hypoxic upregulation of hemoglobins as well as erythropoietin (EPO) and erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) in GBM cell lines (M006x, M059J, M059K, U87R and U87T) and GBM-BTICs. The data showed significantly increased expression in globins (α, β, γ, δ, ζ and ε), EPO and EPOR mRNA levels under hypoxia. Globin expression is not limited to the stem cell populations or GBM-BTICs but is a property of the entire GBM population. We assumed that the total expression of mRNA of different normalized globins (α, β, γ, δ, ζ and ε) at different time‑points for the same cell line is 100%. Under aerobic conditions, ε globin was predominantly expressed, and then decreased gradually with increasing time in hypoxia. This was coupled to a concomitant increase in α and γ globins. Our findings suggest that hypoxic upregulation of hemoglobin expression in GBM cells may be a part of a repertoire of active defence and adaptation mechanisms enabling these cells to acquire resistance to aggressive multimodality treatments of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. New therapeutic strategies to interfere with hemoglobin expression or function in GBM cells are required.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

2014-March
Volume 44 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Emara M, Turner AR and Allalunis-Turner J: Hypoxia differentially upregulates the expression of embryonic, fetal and adult hemoglobin in human glioblastoma cells. Int J Oncol 44: 950-958, 2014.
APA
Emara, M., Turner, A.R., & Allalunis-Turner, J. (2014). Hypoxia differentially upregulates the expression of embryonic, fetal and adult hemoglobin in human glioblastoma cells. International Journal of Oncology, 44, 950-958. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.2239
MLA
Emara, M., Turner, A. R., Allalunis-Turner, J."Hypoxia differentially upregulates the expression of embryonic, fetal and adult hemoglobin in human glioblastoma cells". International Journal of Oncology 44.3 (2014): 950-958.
Chicago
Emara, M., Turner, A. R., Allalunis-Turner, J."Hypoxia differentially upregulates the expression of embryonic, fetal and adult hemoglobin in human glioblastoma cells". International Journal of Oncology 44, no. 3 (2014): 950-958. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2013.2239