Objective: To investigate the role of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) on the proliferation and apoptosis in glioma stem cells.
Methods: Stem cells were isolated from a human glioma cell line U87 by using vincristine and characterized by immunofluorescence assay. Proliferation and apoptosis were determined by soft agar colony assay and flow cytometry; Cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by Western blot analysis.
Results: BMP4 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in U87 glioma stem cells. Moreover, Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1 expression were decreased by BMP4, while Bax level was elevated.
Conclusion: BMP4 can inhibit U87 glioma stem cells proliferation through downregulating Cyclin D1 level, and promote apoptosis through induction of Bax expression and inhibition of Bcl-2 level. It suggests that BMP4 plays an important role in human glioma stem cell biology.