Abstract
Integrin-dependent and -independent MMP-9 and uPAR signaling plays a key role in glioma cell migration and invasion. In this article, we comment on all the possible pathways and molecules associated with MMP-9- and uPAR-mediated glioma cell migration with a special emphasis on integrins, a family of cell adhesion molecules. Our recent research investigations highlighted the substantial benefit of silencing both MMP-9 and uPAR together compared with their individual treatments in glioma. Simultaneous knockdown of both MMP-9 and uPAR regulated a majority of the molecules associated with glioma cell migration and significantly reduced the migration potential of glioma cells. Our results point out that the bicistronic construct, which can simultaneously silence both MMP-9 and uPAR offers a great therapeutic potential and is worth developing as a new drug for treating GBM patients.
Acknowledgments
We thank Debbie McCollum for manuscript preparation and Diana Meister and Sushma Jasti for manuscript review. This research was supported by a grant from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), NS047699 (to J.S.R.). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of National Institutes of Health. The funders had no role in preparation of the manuscript or decision to publish.