Amplification Of Pinx1 In Glioblastoma Promotes Cell Proliferation And Is Targeted By Mir-627

Objective: PIN2/TRF1-interacting telomerase inhibitor 1 (PINX1) is a novel cloned gene that plays a vital role in maintaining telomeres length and chromosome stability. In this study, we investigated the expression, function and mechanisms that governing its aberrant expression in human gliblastoma cells. Methods: A total of 46 glioblastoma tissues and 10 non-cancerous brain tissues were enrolled in this study. The expression pattern of PINX1 was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. By conducting siRNA mediated PINX1 inhibition and plasmid overexpression, cell proliferation was evaluated by Edu staining and MTT assay in U87 and SNB19 cells. Moreover, we studied the novel relationship between PINX1 and miR-627 in glioblastoma cells. Results: Compared with non-cancerous normal brain tissues, expression of PINX1 mRNA and protein levels were remarkably amplificated in glioblastoma. Cellular experiments demonstrated that PINX1 promoted cell proliferation. Further studies suggested miR-627 was the direct upstream regulator that post-transcriptionally targeting PINX1. The expression of PINX1 and miR-627 negatively correlated with each other, and miR-627 exhibited decreased status in glioblastoma tissues. Conclusion: Amplificated PINX1 serves as a potent oncogene by promoting cell proliferation in glioblastoma, and miR-627 directly targets PINX1, thus revealing a novel therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma patients.