Fasudil increases temozolomide sensitivity and suppresses temozolomide-resistant glioma growth via inhibiting ROCK2/ABCG2

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Feb 7;9(2):190. doi: 10.1038/s41419-017-0251-9.

Abstract

Resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) is a major clinical challenge in glioma treatment, but the mechanisms of TMZ resistance are poorly understood. Here, we provided evidence that ROCK2 acted redundantly to maintain resistance of TMZ in TMZ-resistant gliomas, and as a ROCK2 phosphorylation inhibitor, fasudil significantly suppressed proliferation of TMZ-resistant gliomas in vivo and vitro via enhancing the chemosensitivity of TMZ. Additionally, the membrane translocation of ABCG2 was decreased with fasudil by ROCK2/moesin pathway. We also showed that fasudil suppressed the expression of ABCG2 via ROCK2/moesin/β-catenin pathway. Our results reveal an indispensable role for ROCK2 and provide strong evidence for the therapeutic use of fasudil in the clinical setting for TMZ-resistant gliomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / administration & dosage
  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / analogs & derivatives*
  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / pharmacology
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2 / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Drug Synergism
  • Glioma / drug therapy*
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Temozolomide / administration & dosage
  • Temozolomide / pharmacology*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • ABCG2 protein, human
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine
  • ROCK2 protein, human
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • fasudil
  • Temozolomide