Gene Expression Profile of 3D Spheroids in Comparison with 2D Cell Cultures and Tissue Strains of Diffuse High-Grade Gliomas

The use of relevant, accessible, and easily reproducible preclinical models of diffuse gliomas is a prerequisite for the development of successful therapeutic approaches to their treatment. Here we studied the gene expression profile of 3D spheroids in a comparison with 2D cell cultures and tissue strains of diffuse high-grade gliomas. Using real time PCR, we evaluated the expression ofGfap,Cd44,Pten,S100b,Vegfa,Hif1a,Sox2,Melk,Gdnf, andMgmt genes playing an important role in the progression of gliomas and regulating tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, invasion, plasticity, apoptosis, DNA repair, and recruitment of tumor-associated cells. Gene expression analysis showed that 3D spheroids are more similar to tumor tissue strains by the expression levels ofGfap,Cd44, andPten, while the expression levels ofHif1a andSox2 in 3D spheroids did not differ from those of 2D cell cultures, the expression levelsS100b andVegfa in 3D spheroids was higher than in other models, and the expression levels ofMelk,Gdnf, andMgmt genes changed diversely. Thus, 3D spheroid model more closely mimics the tumor tissue than 2D cell culture, but still is not the most relevant, probably due to too small size of spheroids, which does not allow reproducing hypoxia and apoptotic and necrotic processes in the tumor tissue.
Source: Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine - Category: Biology Source Type: research