Transcriptomic Profiling of U-87MG Cells (GBM) Using RNA Sequencing

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) poses a significant challenge due to its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a potential therapeutic modality for GBM. This study aimed to characterize the transcriptomic changes induced by CAP treatment in U-87MG cells (ATCC - HTB-14) using next-generation Illumina sequencing. Total RNA was extracted from U-87MG cells subjected to various treatments, including CAP exposure for 1 minute followed by incubation for different durations (1 hour, 24 hours), and a combination of CAP with temozolomide (TMZ) for 48 hours. Control untreated samples were included for comparison. RNA sequencing libraries were prepared using standard protocols, and paired-end sequencing was performed on the Illumina platform. The raw sequencing data were processed to remove adapter sequences and low-quality reads. Differential gene expression analysis was conducted to identify genes that were significantly altered following CAP treatment compared to control samples. Preliminary analysis revealed distinct transcriptional changes in response to CAP exposure across different treatment conditions. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis were performed to elucidate the biological processes and pathways associated with the differentially expressed genes. Overall, this study provides comprehensive insights into the transcriptomic alterations induced by CAP treatment in U87MG cells and highlights potential candidate genes and pathways involved in the response to CAP therapy. These findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor effects of CAP and may inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies for GBM.