NFATc3 controls tumour growth by regulating proliferation and migration of human astroglioma cells

Calcium/Calcineurin/Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (Ca/CN/NFAT) signalling pathway is the main calcium (Ca(2+)) dependent signalling pathway involved in the homeostasis of brain tissue. Here, we study the presence of NFATc members in human glioma by using U251 cells and a collection of primary human glioblastoma (hGB) cell lines. We show that NFATc3 member is the predominant member. Furthermore, by using constitutive active NFATc3 mutant and shRNA lentiviral vectors to achieve specific silencing of this NFATc member, we describe cytokines and molecules regulated by this pathway which are required for the normal biology of cancer cells. Implanting U251 in an orthotopic intracranial assay, we show that specific NFATc3 silencing has a role in tumour growth. In addition NFATc3 knock-down affects both the proliferation and migration capacities of glioma cells in vitro. Our data open the possibility of NFATc3 as a target for the treatment of glioma.