EMBO J: the researchers found a genetic mechanism to control the metastasis of gliomas

June 18, 2018 / Biovalley BIOON / - glioma is the most common and malignant brain cancer, in which there is a small group of stem cell like cells (known as cancer stem cells) Current research shows that this group of cells mediates the recurrence of glioma and treatment resistance Photo source: the induction factor ZEB1 of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the EMBO journal is related to the initiation, invasion and drug resistance of glioma, but researchers don't know how ZEB1 functions at the molecular level and which genes it regulates Recently, scientists from IGC Research Institute in Portugal found that, contrary to the traditional view that EMT is a transcription inhibitor, ZEB1 is related to the activation and inhibition of gene expression of glioma stem cells Transcriptional inhibition requires ZEB1 to bind to DNA directly, while indirect recruitment to the regulatory region via Wnt signaling pathway effector LEF1 will lead to gene activation, which is independent of Wnt signaling Some glioma genes activated by ZEB1 are considered to be mediators related to cancer cell migration and invasion, including ornithine exchange factor prex1, Up regulation of prex1 expression means shorter survival in patients with glioma The results of prex1 promoting the invasion of glioma cells in vivo emphasize the importance of ZEB1 / LEF1 gene regulatory mechanism in the process of tumorigenesis and development Reference: Pedro rosmaninho et al, ZEB1 potencies genome ‐ wide gene transcription with LEF1 to promote glioblastoma cell innovation, the EMBO Journal (2018) Doi: 10.15252/embj.201797115