MiR-21, miR-34a, miR-125b, miR-181d and miR-648 levels inversely correlate with MGMT and TP53 expression in primary glioblastoma patients.

INTRODUCTION

and alterations play a crucial role in glioblastoma (GB) pathogenesis. and function is affected by several pathologic mechanisms, such as point mutations or promoter methylation, which are well characterized. Expression of both genes can be regulated by other mechanisms as well, e.g., microRNAs (miRNAs). Moreover, cross-talk among various pathologic processes may occur, further affecting and functionality.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 49 GB patients, we analyzed the possible associations between and its miRNA regulators , , and , as well as and its miRNA regulators and . We evaluated the possible influence of mutational and methylation status on the pre-identified associations.

RESULTS

In patients with immunohistochemistry-detected overexpression, expression levels of and were negatively correlated ( = -0.56, = 0.0195), and in patients with mutations, expression levels of and were negatively correlated ( = -0.67, = 0.0330). In patients with methylation, expression levels of were negatively correlated with and expression levels ( = -0.61, = 0.0269 and = -0.34, = 0.0727, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that selected miRNAs are significantly correlated with and levels, but the extent of this correlation differs regarding the and mutational and promoter methylation status.