Rubidium ions as a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma
Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with limited treatment options, mainly due to challenges such as incomplete resection and blood–brain barrier limitations. Rubidium, a naturally occurring alkali metal with favorable biocompatibility, widely used in myocardial and tumor...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97688-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849700152635293696 |
|---|---|
| author | Zairan Wang Zhimin Li Ran Yang Yu Wang Wenbin Ma Xiang Lv Jun Gao Yongning Li |
| author_facet | Zairan Wang Zhimin Li Ran Yang Yu Wang Wenbin Ma Xiang Lv Jun Gao Yongning Li |
| author_sort | Zairan Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with limited treatment options, mainly due to challenges such as incomplete resection and blood–brain barrier limitations. Rubidium, a naturally occurring alkali metal with favorable biocompatibility, widely used in myocardial and tumor perfusion imaging as a blood flow tracer, is repurposed in this study to investigate its potential therapeutic effects and mechanisms against GBM. The impacts of rubidium ions (Rb⁺) on GBM cells were assessed through functional assays evaluating proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. RNA sequencing and Western blot analyses were employed to investigate molecular mechanisms, while in vivo models were used to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and safety. Rb⁺ treatment significantly suppressed GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Mechanistic studies revealed that Rb⁺ downregulated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway, contributing to the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. In vivo, Rb⁺ exhibited potent anti-tumor activity with no detectable adverse effects on major organs, physiological functions, or behavior in mice. Our findings highlight Rb⁺ as a promising and innovative candidate for GBM therapy, leveraging the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to inhibit tumor growth and promote apoptosis. This study underscores the potential of Rb⁺ in addressing the urgent need for novel GBM treatments, warranting further preclinical and clinical investigations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e529f45f271147fdbf735fcd42115747 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e529f45f271147fdbf735fcd421157472025-08-20T03:18:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-97688-8Rubidium ions as a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastomaZairan Wang0Zhimin Li1Ran Yang2Yu Wang3Wenbin Ma4Xiang Lv5Jun Gao6Yongning Li7Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesDepartment of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesDepartment of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesInstitute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesDepartment of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesAbstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with limited treatment options, mainly due to challenges such as incomplete resection and blood–brain barrier limitations. Rubidium, a naturally occurring alkali metal with favorable biocompatibility, widely used in myocardial and tumor perfusion imaging as a blood flow tracer, is repurposed in this study to investigate its potential therapeutic effects and mechanisms against GBM. The impacts of rubidium ions (Rb⁺) on GBM cells were assessed through functional assays evaluating proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. RNA sequencing and Western blot analyses were employed to investigate molecular mechanisms, while in vivo models were used to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and safety. Rb⁺ treatment significantly suppressed GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Mechanistic studies revealed that Rb⁺ downregulated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway, contributing to the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. In vivo, Rb⁺ exhibited potent anti-tumor activity with no detectable adverse effects on major organs, physiological functions, or behavior in mice. Our findings highlight Rb⁺ as a promising and innovative candidate for GBM therapy, leveraging the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to inhibit tumor growth and promote apoptosis. This study underscores the potential of Rb⁺ in addressing the urgent need for novel GBM treatments, warranting further preclinical and clinical investigations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97688-8Rubidium ions (Rb⁺)GlioblastomaApoptosisCell cyclePI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway |
| spellingShingle | Zairan Wang Zhimin Li Ran Yang Yu Wang Wenbin Ma Xiang Lv Jun Gao Yongning Li Rubidium ions as a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma Scientific Reports Rubidium ions (Rb⁺) Glioblastoma Apoptosis Cell cycle PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway |
| title | Rubidium ions as a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma |
| title_full | Rubidium ions as a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma |
| title_fullStr | Rubidium ions as a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rubidium ions as a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma |
| title_short | Rubidium ions as a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma |
| title_sort | rubidium ions as a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma |
| topic | Rubidium ions (Rb⁺) Glioblastoma Apoptosis Cell cycle PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97688-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zairanwang rubidiumionsasanoveltherapeuticapproachforglioblastoma AT zhiminli rubidiumionsasanoveltherapeuticapproachforglioblastoma AT ranyang rubidiumionsasanoveltherapeuticapproachforglioblastoma AT yuwang rubidiumionsasanoveltherapeuticapproachforglioblastoma AT wenbinma rubidiumionsasanoveltherapeuticapproachforglioblastoma AT xianglv rubidiumionsasanoveltherapeuticapproachforglioblastoma AT jungao rubidiumionsasanoveltherapeuticapproachforglioblastoma AT yongningli rubidiumionsasanoveltherapeuticapproachforglioblastoma |