Expression of Transketolase-like 1 and Activation of Akt in Grade IV Glioblastomas Compared With Grades II and III Astrocytic Gliomas

Transketolases link the Embden-Meyerhof pathway to the pentose phosphate pathway. An influence of p-Akt on this metabolism was described. This study was performed to compare the expression of transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1) and p-Akt in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other astrocytic gliomas (AGs, grades II and III). We analyzed 15 GBMs, 15 AGs (grade II), and 3 normal brain samples for TKTL1 expression by semiquantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting and 23 GBMs, 9 grade III AGs, and 7 grade II AGs immunohistochemically (TKTL1 and p-Akt). On the protein level, TKTL1 was significantly overexpressed in tumors. Immunohistochemically, the tumor grade sig…