Open Access

GLI3 knockdown decreases stemness, cell proliferation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Maria Fernanda Setúbal Destro Rodrigues
    • Lucyene Miguita
    • Nathália Paiva De Andrade
    • Daniele Heguedusch
    • Camila Oliveira Rodini
    • Raquel Ajub Moyses
    • Tatiana Natasha Toporcov
    • Ricardo Ribeiro Gama
    • Eloiza Elena Tajara
    • Fabio Daumas Nunes
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 26, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4572
  • Pages: 2458-2472
  • Copyright: © Rodrigues et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an extremely aggressive disease associated with a poor prognosis. Previous studies have established that cancer stem cells (CSCs) actively participate in OSCC development, progression and resistance to conventional treatments. Furthermore, CSCs frequently exhibit a deregulated expression of normal stem cell signalling pathways, thereby acquiring their distinctive abilities, of which self-renewal is an example. In this study, we examined the effects of GLI3 knockdown in OSCC, as well as the differentially expressed genes in CSC-like cells (CSCLCs) expressing high (CD44high) or low (CD44low) levels of CD44. The prognostic value of GLI3 in OSCC was also evaluated. The OSCC cell lines were sorted based on CD44 expression; gene expression was evaluated using a PCR array. Following this, we examined the effects of GLI3 knockdown on CD44 and ESA expression, colony and sphere formation capability, stem-related gene expression, proliferation and invasion. The overexpression of genes related to the Notch, transforming growth factor (TGF)β, FGF, Hedgehog, Wnt and pluripotency maintenance pathways was observed in the CD44high cells. GLI3 knockdown was associated with a significant decrease in different CSCLC fractions, spheres and colonies in addition to the downregulation of the CD44, Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4; also known as POU5F1) and BMI1 genes. This downregulation was accompanied by an increase in the expression of the Involucrin (IVL) and S100A9 genes. Cellular proliferation and invasion were inhibited following GLI3 knockdown. In OSCC samples, a high GLI3 expression was associated with tumour size but not with prognosis. On the whole, the findings of this study demonstrate for the first time, at least to the best of our knowledge, that GLI3 contributes to OSCC stemness and malignant behaviour. These findings suggest the potential for the development of novel therapies, either in isolation or in combination with other drugs, based on CSCs in OSCC.
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December-2018
Volume 53 Issue 6

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

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Rodrigues MS, Miguita L, De Andrade NP, Heguedusch D, Rodini CO, Moyses RA, Toporcov TN, Gama RR, Tajara EE, Nunes FD, Nunes FD, et al: GLI3 knockdown decreases stemness, cell proliferation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Oncol 53: 2458-2472, 2018
APA
Rodrigues, M.S., Miguita, L., De Andrade, N.P., Heguedusch, D., Rodini, C.O., Moyses, R.A. ... Nunes, F.D. (2018). GLI3 knockdown decreases stemness, cell proliferation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma. International Journal of Oncology, 53, 2458-2472. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4572
MLA
Rodrigues, M. S., Miguita, L., De Andrade, N. P., Heguedusch, D., Rodini, C. O., Moyses, R. A., Toporcov, T. N., Gama, R. R., Tajara, E. E., Nunes, F. D."GLI3 knockdown decreases stemness, cell proliferation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma". International Journal of Oncology 53.6 (2018): 2458-2472.
Chicago
Rodrigues, M. S., Miguita, L., De Andrade, N. P., Heguedusch, D., Rodini, C. O., Moyses, R. A., Toporcov, T. N., Gama, R. R., Tajara, E. E., Nunes, F. D."GLI3 knockdown decreases stemness, cell proliferation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma". International Journal of Oncology 53, no. 6 (2018): 2458-2472. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2018.4572