MUC15 promotes growth and invasion of glioma cells by activating Raf/MEK/ERK pathway.

MUC15 is a novel mucin associated with the cell membrane that is overexpressed in human gliomas. Its function in glioma is unclear. In this study, high MUC15 levels were detected in glioma tissues and cells. We found that transfection with MUC15 siRNA in U251 and T98G cells reduced MUC15 expression and decreased cell proliferation, invasion, and migration (P < .05). After transfecting U251 and T98G cells with pcDNA3.1-myc-His-MUC15 plasmid to overexpress MUC15, MUC15 expression was significantly upregulated and cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were increased (P < .05). MUC15 activated the Raf/MEK/ERK signalling pathway and the ERK inhibitor PD98059 partly reversed MUC15-enhanced proliferation, invasion, and migration of glioma cells (P < .05). The results indicate that MUC15 plays a part in glioma tumorigenesis, and the Raf/MEK/ERK signalling is involved in the regulation of MUC15 on glioma cell activity.