Therapeutic Discovery Silencing IL-13Ra2 Promotes Glioblastoma Cell Death via Endogenous Signaling

Glioblastomamultiforme (GBM) is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, with a survival rate of only 13% to 27%within 2 years of diagnosis despite optimal medical treatment. We hypothesize that the presence of a unique IL-13Ra2 decoy receptor prevents GBM apoptosis. This receptor has a high affinity for interleukin-13 (IL-13), binds the cytokine, and competitively inhibits the intracellular signaling cascade initiated by IL-13. In cells lacking the IL-13Ra2 decoy receptor, IL-13 initiates the production of 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LOX-1), which has been implicated in cellular apoptosis. Our group and others have shown that induction of 15-LOX-1 correlates with tumor cell death in colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. How 15-LOX-1 induces apoptosis remains unclear. Preliminary evidence in GBM cells implicates an apoptotic process mediated by PPARg. 15-LOX-1 metabolites can modulate PPARg and activation of PPARg can suppress tumor growth. We hypothesize that in GBM, IL-13 can induce 15-LOX-1, which regulates cell apoptosis via signaling through PPARg and that expression of IL-13Ra2 prevents apoptosis and contributes to tumor growth. Our in vitro and in vivo data support this. Knocking down IL-13Ra2 with short interfering RNA dramatically induces 15-LOX-1 expression, promotes apoptosis, and reduces GBM tumor growth in vivo. These findings identify a mechanism for eliminating the blockade of endogenous IL-13 signaling and for promotion of apoptosis, and characterize a role for 15-LOX-1 in GBM apoptosis. Identifying a mechanistic pathway that can be targeted for pharmacologic intervention will have applied implications to developing novel and effective treatments of GBM. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(7); 1149–60. 2011 AACR