Expression of the Arp2/3 complex in human gliomas and its role in the migration and invasion of glioma cells

A hallmark of directional cell migration is localized actin polymerization at the leading protrusions of the cell. The Arp2/3 complex nucleates the formation of the dendritic actin network (lamellipodia) at the leading edge of motile cells. This study was designed to investigate the role of the Arp2/3 complex in the infiltrative behavior of glioma cells. Immunofluorescence and western blotting showed a positive correlation between the expression of Arp2/3 and the malignancy of glioma specimens (r=0.686, P=0.02) and confocal microscopy demonstrated localization of the Arp2/3 complex in lamellipodia of glioma cells. Furthermore, we examined the effects of Arp2/3 complex inhibition in U251, LN229 and SNB19 glioma cells using CK666, an Arp2/3 complex inhibitor. Glioma cells lost lamellipodia and cell polarity after treatment with CK666. Inhibition of the Arp2/3 complex significantly affected the ability of glioma cells to migrate and invade. In the wound-healing assay, CK666 markedly inhibited cell migration, U251 cell migration was inhibited to 38.73 +/- 3.45% of control, LN229 cells to 57.40 +/- 2.16% of control and SNB19 cells to 34.17 +/- 3.82% of control. Also, CK666 significantly impaired Transwell chamber invasion capability of U251, LN229 and SNB19 cells compared with DMSO control by 72.70 +/- 4.86, 39.12 +/- 8.42 and 41.41 +/- 4.66%, respectively. The Arp2/3 complex is, therefore, likely to be a crucial participant in glioma cell invasion and migration, and may represent a target for therapeutic intervention.