Open Access

Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 is associated with the proliferation of stem‑like cancer cells

  • Authors:
    • Qing‑Wei Zhao
    • Yan‑Wen Zhou
    • Wen‑Xin Li
    • Bo Kang
    • Xiao‑Qian Zhang
    • Ying Yang
    • Jie Cheng
    • Sheng‑Yong Yin
    • Ying Tong
    • Jian‑Qin He
    • Hang‑Ping Yao
    • Min Zheng
    • Ying‑Jie Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 27, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2015.3752
  • Pages: 1621-1629
  • Copyright: © Zhao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY_NC 3.0].

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Oct4 protein encoded by POU5F1 plays a pivotal role in maintaining the self‑renewal of pluripotent stem cells; however, its presence in cancer cells remains controversial. In the present study, we provided evidence that the transcripts of authentic OCT4 gene (OCT4A) and its multiple pseudogenes were detected in a variety of cancer cell lines. A few major bands were also detected by western blotting using an anti‑Oct4A monoclonal antibody. Moreover, an anti‑Oct4‑pT235 antibody was used to identify a band in the majority of the tested cancer cell lines that coincided with one of the anti‑Oct4A bands which was decreasable by a specific shRNA. The Oct4‑pT235 signals were also detected in human glioblastoma and liver cancer specimens by immunofluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry. U87 glioblastoma cells were cultured in a neural stem cell medium to induce the formation of neurospheres rich in stem‑like cancer cells. The levels of Oct4‑pT235 in the sphere cells were markedly increased compared to their monolayer parental cells, a result that was accompanied by upregulation of the PI3K‑Akt pathway. Akti‑1/2, a specific inhibitor of Akt, effectively reduced the level of Oct4‑pT235 and attenuated the proliferation of U87 sphere cells. ITE, an agonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, also significantly attenuated the Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 in glioblastoma and liver cancer cells, and reduced their tumorigenic potential in a xenograft tumor model. Taken together, we concluded that the Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4A or its homolog protein was associated with the proliferation of stem‑like cancer cells that may serve as a novel biomarker and drug target for certain types of cancer.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

April-2015
Volume 33 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Zhao QW, Zhou YW, Li WX, Kang B, Zhang XQ, Yang Y, Cheng J, Yin SY, Tong Y, He JQ, He JQ, et al: Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 is associated with the proliferation of stem‑like cancer cells. Oncol Rep 33: 1621-1629, 2015
APA
Zhao, Q., Zhou, Y., Li, W., Kang, B., Zhang, X., Yang, Y. ... Wang, Y. (2015). Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 is associated with the proliferation of stem‑like cancer cells. Oncology Reports, 33, 1621-1629. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2015.3752
MLA
Zhao, Q., Zhou, Y., Li, W., Kang, B., Zhang, X., Yang, Y., Cheng, J., Yin, S., Tong, Y., He, J., Yao, H., Zheng, M., Wang, Y."Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 is associated with the proliferation of stem‑like cancer cells". Oncology Reports 33.4 (2015): 1621-1629.
Chicago
Zhao, Q., Zhou, Y., Li, W., Kang, B., Zhang, X., Yang, Y., Cheng, J., Yin, S., Tong, Y., He, J., Yao, H., Zheng, M., Wang, Y."Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 is associated with the proliferation of stem‑like cancer cells". Oncology Reports 33, no. 4 (2015): 1621-1629. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2015.3752