Turkish Neurosurgery
AGR2 gene expression in glioblastoma: a novel molecular potential target for diagnosis and treatment
Hüseyin Utku Adilay1, Sevket Evran2, Salim Katar1, Ahmet Kayhan2, Ayla Solmaz Avcıkurt3, Omur Gunaldı4, Bülent Güçlü5, Ahmet Ozdemir1, Osman Tanrıverdi4
1University of Balıkesir Medical Faculty, Neurosurgery, Balıkesir,
2Haseki Research and Training Hospital, Neurosurgery, Istanbul,
3University of Balıkesir Medical Faculty, Medical Genetic, Balıkesir,
4Health Sciences University; Cam and Sakura City Hospital, Neurosurgery, Istanbul,
5Dr Lutfu Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery, Istanbul,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.37436-21.2

Aim:Anterior gradient protein 2 (AGR2) is a protein disulfide isomerase and is strongly expressed in secretory tissues. Moreover, it is highly expressed in some cancers and is believed to be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target. We therefore aimed at assessing AGR2 gene expression in patients with human glioblastoma (GBM) in comparison to levels in healthy brain tissues: a novel research. Material and Methods:We evaluated the expression levels of AGR2 gene in 34 tissue samples: 29 of them were derived from patients with glioblastoma (GBM group) and 5 were derived from patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (control group). Moreover, in order to demonstrate the AGR2 gene expression, we performed RNA isolation from tissue samples, cDNA acquisition from RNA via reverse transcription and the demonstration of gene expression via real-time polymerase chain reaction. We therefore confirmed findings of both groups. Results:The mean age of the GBM and control groups were 53.1 ± 12.82 years and 40.4 ± 10.92 years respectively. AGR2 gene expression levels of the GBM group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences of AGR2 gene expression levels across age groups, levels of glucose, urea, creatinine, white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, hemoglobin, platelet, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T3 and T4 in GBM group (p > 0.05). Conclusion:AGR2 gene expression was significantly higher in patients with GBM. Thus, AGR2 gene can be considered as a potential therapeutic target.

Corresponding author : Salim Katar