Processing of Immunosuppressive Pro-TGF-β1,2 by Human Glioblastoma Cells Involves Cytoplasmic and Secreted Furin-Like Proteases

TGF-β is a putative mediator of immunosuppression associated with malignant glioma and other types of cancer. Subtilisin-like proprotein convertases such as furin are thought to mediate TGF-β processing. Here we report that human malignant glioma cell lines express furin mRNA and protein, exhibit furin-like protease (FLP) activity, and release active furin into the cell culture supernatant. FLP activity is not modulated by exogenous TGF-β or neutralizing TGF-β Abs. Exposure of LN-18 and T98G glioma cell lines to the furin inhibitor, decanoyl-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-chloromethylketone, inhibits processing of the TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 precursor molecules and, consequently, the release of mature bioactive TGF-β molecules. Ectopic expression of PDX, a synthetic antitrypsin analog with antifurin activity, in the glioma cells inhibits FLP activity, TGF-β processing, and TGF-β release. Thus, subtilisin-like proprotein convertases may represent a novel target for the immunotherapy of malignant glioma and other cancers or pathological conditions characterized by enhanced TGF-β bioactivity.