SH3GL3 acts as a novel tumor suppressor in glioblastoma tumorigenesis by inhibiting STAT3 signaling.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most severe malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are considered to account for tumor initiation, therapeutic resistance, and tumor relapse. Yet the underlying mechanisms of GSC stemness maintenance remain largely unknown. Abnormal activation of STAT3 signaling is required for GBM tumorigenesis and GSC self-renewal. In this study, we provide evidence that SH3GL3 was weakly expressed in GBM and its high expression correlated with a favorable prognosis for GBM patients. Ectopic of SH3GL3 expression considerably inhibits GBM cell malignant behaviors, including GBM cell proliferation, migration as well as GSCs self-renewal ability. Mechanistically, we first found that SH3GL3 interacts with STAT3, which thereby inhibiting STAT3 nuclear localization. Overexpression of constitutively activated (STAT3-C) restored the growth, migration and self-renewal ability impaired by overexpression of SH3GL3. Together, our work shed insight on a critical regulatory mechanism mediated by SH3GL3 to decrease the stem cell-like property and tumorigenic potential.