DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) plays a critical role in non-homologous end-joining repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) induced by ionizing radiation (IR). Little is known, however, regarding the relationship between DNA-PKcs and IR-induced angiogenesis; thus, in this study we aimed to further elucidate this relationship. Our findings revealed that lack of DNA-PKcs expression or activity sensitized glioma cells to radiation due to the defective DNA DSB repairs and inhibition of phosphorylated Akt(Ser473) . Moreover, DNA-PKcs deficiency apparently mitigated IR-induced migration, invasion and tube formation of human microvascular endothelial cell (HMEC-1) in conditioned media derived from irradiated DNA-PKcs mutant M059J glioma cells or M059K glioma cells that have inhibited DNA-PKcs kinase activity due to the specific inhibitor NU7026 or siRNA knockdown. Moreover, IR-elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion was abrogated by DNA-PKcs suppression. Supplemental VEGF antibody to irradiated-conditioned media was negated enhanced cell motility with a concomitant decrease in phosphorylation of the FAK(Try925) and Src(Try416) . Furthermore, DNA-PKcs suppression was markedly abrogated in IR-induced transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) accumulation, which is related to activation of VEGF transcription. These findings, taken together, demonstrate that depletion of DNA-PKcs in glioblastoma cells at least partly suppressed IR-inflicted migration, invasion, and tube formation of HMEC-1 cells, which may be associated with the reduced HIF-1α level and VEGF secretion. Inhibition of DNA-PKcs may be a promising therapeutic approach to enhance radio-therapeutic efficacy for glioblastoma by hindering its angiogenesis.
© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.