Phosphoglycerate kinase 1 gene knockdown suppresses the migration and invasion of glioma cells

Phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), a glycolytic enzyme, is overexpressed in several carcinomas and plays an important role in their malignancy. However, expression and function of PGK1 in gliomas are unknown. In the present study, we determined PGK1 protein expression in different World Health Organization (WHO) grade glioma tissues and normal brain tissues by performing immunohistochemical analysis. Small-interfering RNA against PGK1 (si-PGK1) was synthesized and was transiently transfected into 2 human glioblastoma cell lines U-87 MG and U-118 MG. PGK1 mRNA and protein expression after transfection were detected by performing quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting, respectively. Effect of PGK1 knockdown on the migration and invasion of U-87 MG and U-118 MG cells was determined by performing transwell assay. Further, effect of PGK1 knockdown on the protein expression of beta-catenin and chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) was determined by performing western blotting. Immunohistochemical analysis detected high PGK1 protein expression in different WHO grade gliomas. Moreover, upregulated PGK1 protein expression was significantly associated with gliomas having advanced WHO grades. Si-PGK1 transfection successfully silenced PGK1 mRNA and protein expression in U-87 MG and U-118 MG cells, as confirmed by performing qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. PGK1 knockdown also suppressed the migration and invasion of U-87 MG and U-118 MG cells and decreased the protein expression of beta-catenin and CXCR4, which promote the invasion and metastasis of many carcinomas. Thus, these results suggested that PGK1 played an oncogenic role in gliomas and could serve as a biomarker for predicting the metastatic progression of gliomas.