Immunodetection of Pyruvate Carboxylase Expression in Human Astrocytomas, Glioblastomas, Oligodendrogliomas, and Meningiomas.

Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) is an enzyme catalyzing the carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate. The enzymatic generation of oxaloacetate, an intermediate of the Krebs cycle, could provide the cancer cells with the additional anaplerotic capacity and promote their anabolic metabolism. Recent studies revealed that several types of cancer cells express PC. The gained anaplerotic capability of cells mediated by PC correlates with their expedited growth, higher aggressiveness, and increased metastatic potential. By immunohistochemical staining and immunoblotting analysis, we investigated PC expression among samples of different types of human brain tumors. Our results show that PC is expressed by the cells in glioblastoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and meningioma tumors. The presence of PC in these tumors suppose that PC could support the anabolic metabolism of their cellular constituents by its anaplerotic capability.