Immune checkpoint molecule herpes virus entry mediator is overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis in human glioblastoma.

Background: Dysregulation of immune checkpoint molecules leads to immune evasion in human tumours but has become a viable target for tumour therapy. Here, we examined expression of Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM), an immune checkpoint molecule, in human glioblastoma (GBM) to assess its potential as a molecular target for treatment.

Methods: Molecular and clinical data from publicly available genomic databases containing WHO grade II-IV human glioma cases (n = 1866) were analyzed.

TAGLN2 is a candidate prognostic biomarker promoting tumorigenesis in human gliomas.

Background: Transgelin-2 (TAGLN2) is a member of the calponin family of actin-bundling proteins that is involved in the regulation of cell morphology, motility, and cell transformation. Here, the clinical significance and potential function of TAGLN2 in malignant gliomas were investigated.

Methods: Molecular and clinical data was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

High expression of RAB43 predicts poor prognosis and is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gliomas.

The Ras-related GTP-binding protein (RAB) family plays an important role in regulating signal transduction and cellular processes including vesicle transport, cytoskeleton formation and membrane trafficking. More recently, several RAB members have been reported to promote tumorigenesis in many types of cancers. However, the clinical significance and potential function of RAB43 in gliomas remain unclear.

Blockage of GSK3β-mediated Drp1 phosphorylation provides neuroprotection in neuronal and mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

It is well established that mitochondrial fragmentation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mitochondrial fission is mediated by dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), which is highly expressed in nervous system and regulated by various posttranslational modifications including phosphorylation. We identified glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3β-dependent Drp1 phosphorylation at Ser(40) and Ser(44), which increases Drp1 GTPase activity and its mitochondrial distribution and could induce mitochondrial fragmentation.