Fluoxetine enhances the antitumor effect of olfactory ensheathing cell‐thymidine kinase/ganciclovir gene therapy in human glioblastoma multiforme cells through upregulation of Connexin43 levels

Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most invasive form of primary brain astrocytoma, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV‐TK/GCV) gene therapy is considered a promising strategy for GBM treatment. Since Connexin43 (Cx43) expression is reduced in GBM cells, increasing Cx43 levels could enhance the effectiveness of gene therapy. The present study aims to examine the impact of fluoxetine on HSV‐TK/GCV gene therapy in human GBM cells using human olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) as vectors. The effect of fluoxetine on Cx43 levels was assessed using the western blot technique. GBM‐derived astrocytes and OECs‐TK were Cocultured, and the effect of fluoxetine on the Antitumor effect of OEC‐TK/GCV gene therapy was evaluated using MTT assay and flow cytometry. Our results showed that fluoxetine increased Cx43 levels in OECs and GBM cells and augmented the killing effect of OECs‐TK on GBM cells. Western blot data revealed that fluoxetine enhanced the Bax/Bcl2 ratio and the levels of cleaved caspase‐3 in the coculture of OECs‐TK and GBM cells. Moreover, flow cytometry data indicated that fluoxetine increased the percentage of apoptotic cells in the coculture system. This study suggests that fluoxetine, by upregulating Cx43 levels, could strengthen the Antitumor effect of OEC‐TK/GCV gene therapy on GBM cells.