Phenotypical Flexibility of the EGFRvIII-Positive Glioblastoma Cell Line and the Multidirectional Influence of TGFβ and EGF on These Cells—EGFRvIII Appears as a Weak Oncogene

oleh: Aneta Włodarczyk, Cezary Tręda, Adrianna Rutkowska, Dagmara Grot, Weronika Dobrewa, Amelia Kierasińska, Marta Węgierska, Tomasz Wasiak, Tadeusz Strózik, Piotr Rieske, Ewelina Stoczyńska-Fidelus

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-10-01

Deskripsi

Background: The biological role of EGFRvIII (epidermal growth factor receptor variant three) remains unclear. Methods: Three glioblastoma DK-MG sublines were tested with EGF (epidermal growth factor) and TGFβ (transforming growth factor β). Sublines were characterized by an increased percentage of EGFRvIII-positive cells and doubling time (DK-MG<sup>low</sup> to DK-MG<sup>extra-high</sup>), number of amplicons, and EGFRvIII mRNA expression. The influence of the growth factors on primary EGFRvIII positive glioblastomas was assessed. Results: The overexpression of exoEGFRvIII in DK-MG<sup>high</sup> did not convert them into DK-MG<sup>extra-high</sup>, and this overexpression did not change DK-MG<sup>low</sup> to DK-MG<sup>high</sup>; however, the overexpression of RAS<sup>G12V</sup> increased the proliferation of DK-MG<sup>low</sup>. Moreover, the highest EGFRvIII phosphorylation in DK-MG<sup>extra-high</sup> did not cause relevant AKT (known as protein kinase B) and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) activation. Further analyses indicate that TGFβ is able to induce apoptosis of DK-MG<sup>high</sup> cells. This subline was able to convert to DK-MG<sup>extra-high</sup>, which appeared resistant to this proapoptotic effect. EGF acted as a pro-survival factor and stimulated proliferation; however, simultaneous senescence induction in DK-MG<sup>extra-high</sup> cells was ambiguous. Primary EGFRvIII positive (and SOX2 (SRY-Box Transcription Factor 2) positive or SOX2 negative) glioblastoma cells differentially responded to EGF and TGFβ. Conclusions: The roles of TGFβ and EGF in the EGFRvIII context remain unclear. EGFRvIII appears as a weak oncogene and not a marker of GSC (glioma stem cells). Hence, it may not be a proper target for CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T cells).