EN1 Regulates Cell Growth and Proliferation in Human Glioma Cells via Hedgehog Signaling

Glioblastoma is an aggressive cancer of the nervous system that accounts for the majority of brain cancer-related deaths. Through cross-species transcriptome studies, we found that Engrailed 1 (EN1) is highly expressed in serum-free cultured glioma cells as well as glioma tissues, and increased expression level predicts a worse prognosis. EN1 controls glioma cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and tumorigenic capacity in vivo. It also influences sensitivity of glioma cells to gamma-ray irradiation by regulating intracellular ROS levels. Mechanistically, EN1 influences Hedgehog signaling by regulating the level of Gli1 as well as primary cilia length and the primary cilia transport-related protein TULP3. In conclusion, we demonstrate that EN1 acts as an oncogenic regulator that contributes to glioblastoma pathogenesis and could serve as a diagnostic/prognostic marker and therapeutic target for glioblastoma.

Automated summary

The study found that EN1 is highly expressed in glioma cells and tissues, and its increased expression level is associated with poor prognosis. EN1 influences glioma cell proliferation, migration, and sensitivity to radiation by regulating Gli1 levels and the primary cilia-related protein TULP3. These findings suggest that EN1 plays an oncogenic role in glioblastoma pathogenesis.