Silencing the autophagy-specific gene Beclin-1 contributes to attenuated hypoxia-induced vasculogenic mimicry formation in glioma

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of Beclin-1 on vasculogenic mimicry (VM) induced by hypoxia in glioma. METHODS: CD34-PAS staining was carried out to observe VM formation, and immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression levels of Beclin-1, HIF-1 alpha, VEGF and MMP2 in 105 patients with primary glioma. Human glioma U87MG cells were divided into Normoxia, Hypoxia, Hypoxia + NC siRNA and Hypoxia + Beclin-1 siRNA groups. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) was used to stimulate hypoxic conditions, and a VM tube formation assay was used to detect VM formation. Wound healing and Transwell invasion assays were used to detect the invasive and migratory abilities of U87MG cells, respectively. Fluorescent LC3 puncta analysis was performed to examine the status of autophagic flux. Expression levels of Beclin-1 and VM-related molecules were determined using real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. RESULTS: There were 34 VM-positive cases and 71 VM-negative cases among 105 glioma patients, and VM formation was correlated with pathological grade and the expression of Beclin-1, HIF-1 alpha, VEGF and MMP2. Positive relations were found between Beclin-1 and the expression of HIF-1 alpha, VEGF and MMP2. Under hypoxic conditions, significant increases in the total length of tubes, migration rate, invasion cell number and expression of VM-related molecules were found in U87MG cells. Silencing Beclin-1 markedly decreased hypoxia-induced VM formation and the invasive and migratory abilities, together with the expression of VM-related molecules, in U87MG cells and significantly inhibited the autophagic flux. CONCLUSION: Silencing Beclin-1 can attenuate hypoxia-induced VM formation and the metastatic ability of U87MG cells and is a potential target for VM inhibition in glioma.