Transcription Factor CEBPD-Mediated WTAP Facilitates the Stemness, Growth, Migration and Glycolysis of Glioblastoma Stem Like Cells

Glioblastoma stem like cells (GSCs) are a group of cells with strong tumorigenicity that exist in glioblastoma (GBM). Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) is thought to promote the malignant process of GBM. However, whether WTAP regulates GSCs function to mediate GBM process is still unclear. The expression levels of WTAP and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein delta (CEBPD) were examined by qRT-PCR and western blot. GSCs stemness, proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were assessed using sphere formation assay, CCK8 assay, EdU assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay. Cell glycolysis was evaluated by testing glucose consumption and lactification. The regulation of CEBPD on WTAP was confirmed by ChIP assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. In vivo experiments were performed to explore the effect of CEBPD/WTAP on the tumorigenicity of GSCs. WTAP and CEBPD had increased expression in GBM tissues and GSCs. Silencing of WTAP suppressed GSCs stemnness, proliferation, migration, glycolysis and promoted apoptosis. CEBPD could bind to WTAP promoter region to enhance its transcription. Besides, WTAP overexpression reversed the suppressive effect of CEBPD knockdown on GSCs stemnness, growth, migration and glycolysis in vitro, as well as the reducing effect on tumorigenicity of GSCs in vivo. CEBPD/WTAP axis played a vital role in regulating GSCs function, providing a potential therapy target for GBM.