β-Catenin is involved in Bex2 down-regulation induced glioma cell invasion/migration inhibition

Previously, we found that brain expressed X-linked gene 2 (Bex2) regulates the invasion/migration ability of glioma cells. However, the mechanism of this effect remains unknown. In current study, we reported that Bex2 down-regulation inhibited glioma cell migration and invasion by decreasing the nucleus and cytoplasm protein level of beta-catenin. We found that the protein levels of Bex2 and beta-catenin were up-regulated and showed direct correlation in glioma tissues. Bex2 down-regulation significantly decreased beta-catenin protein levels but not its mRNA levels. Furthermore, the decreased protein level of beta-catenin was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm but not in the cell membrane. Further study found that the effects of Bex2 down-regulation on the invasion and migration of glioma cell could be reversed by beta-catenin over-expression. Taken together, Bex2 affects the invasion and migration ability of glioma cells by regulating beta-catenin. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.