Stathmin expression in glioma-derived microvascular endothelial cells: a novel therapeutic target.

The purpose of this study was to investigate stathmin expression and its mechanisms of action in GDMEC. Microvascular endothelial cells were isolated from human gliomas (n=68) and normal brain specimans (n=20), and purified by magnetic beads coated with anti-CD105 antibody. The expression of stathmin mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Stathmin expression was silenced by application of specific siRNA in high grade GDMEC. The proliferation, apoptosis and invasion behavior of GDMEC were investigated. The stathmin positive rate of endothelial cells in normal brain, grade I-II glioma and grade III-IV glioma was 20, 66 and 95.5%, respectively (P<0.05). When cells were treated with siRNA to silence stathmin, cell viability was reduced, the apoptosis rate increased and the migration of vascular endothelial cells was suppressed significantly (P<0.05). Down-regulation of stathmin suppressed neoangiogenesis of glioma and provides a potential target for glioma treatment.