Inference of Low and High-Grade Glioma Gene Regulatory Networks Delineates the Role of Rnd3 in Establishing Multiple Hallmarks of Cancer

PLoS Genet. 2015 Jul 1;11(7):e1005325. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005325. eCollection 2015 Jul.

Abstract

Gliomas are a highly heterogeneous group of brain tumours that are refractory to treatment, highly invasive and pro-angiogenic. Glioblastoma patients have an average survival time of less than 15 months. Understanding the molecular basis of different grades of glioma, from well differentiated, low-grade tumours to high-grade tumours, is a key step in defining new therapeutic targets. Here we use a data-driven approach to learn the structure of gene regulatory networks from observational data and use the resulting models to formulate hypothesis on the molecular determinants of glioma stage. Remarkably, integration of available knowledge with functional genomics datasets representing clinical and pre-clinical studies reveals important properties within the regulatory circuits controlling low and high-grade glioma. Our analyses first show that low and high-grade gliomas are characterised by a switch in activity of two subsets of Rho GTPases. The first one is involved in maintaining normal glial cell function, while the second is linked to the establishment of multiple hallmarks of cancer. Next, the development and application of a novel data integration methodology reveals novel functions of RND3 in controlling glioma cell migration, invasion, proliferation, angiogenesis and clinical outcome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • DNA Copy Number Variations
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics*
  • Glioma / genetics*
  • Glioma / pathology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RND3 protein, human
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE43674
  • GEO/GSE43812