Kininogen-1 (KNG1) has demonstrated both tumor suppressor and angiogenesis inhibitor properties in glioblastoma cells.

Ren et al., analyzed the microarray and proteomics profiles of tumor tissues from glioblastoma patients (N = 180), and identified potential RNA regulators of the KNG1. Validation experiments in U87 glioblastoma cells showed that the regulation of KNG1 by CTU1, KIAA1274, and RAX was mediated by miR 138. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of CTU1, KIAA1274, or RAX in U87 cells and immortalized human endothelial cells (iHECs) significantly reduced KNG1 expression (P < 0.05 for all), which resulted in the upregulation of oncogenic EGFR signaling in both cell lines, and stimulated angiogenic processes in cultured iHECs and zebrafish and mouse xenograft models of glioblastoma-induced angiogenesis. Angiogenic transduction of iHECs occurred via the uptake of U87-derived exosomes enriched in miR-138, with the siRNA-mediated knockdown of KNG1, CTU1, KIAA1274, or RAX increasing the level of miR-138 enrichment to varying extents and enhancing the angiogenic effects of the U87-derived exosomes on iHECs. The competing endogenous RNA network of KNG1 represents potential targets for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for glioblastoma ¹⁾