Resistance against apoptosis by the cellular prion protein is dependent on its glycosylation status in oral HSC-2 and colon LS 174T cancer cells

Most studies have focused on the role of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) in neurodegenerative diseases, whereas the function of this ubiquitous protein outside the nervous system remains elusive. Therefore, the anti-apoptotic property of PrPC in oral squamous cell carcinoma (HSC-2) and colon adenocarcinoma (LS 174T) was evaluated in this study, by stable shRNA knockdown and overexpression, respectively. PrPC confers resistance against oxidative stress-apoptosis as indicated by MTT assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI and DCFH-DA staining, but this property is abolished upon N-glycosylation inhibition by tunicamycin. Our results indicate that the inhibition of glycosylation in cancer cells overexpressing PrPC could represent a potential therapeutic target.