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Johnson AL, Lopez-Bertoni H. Cellular diversity through space and time: adding new dimensions to GBM therapeutic development. Front Genet 2024; 15:1356611. [PMID: 38774283 PMCID: PMC11106394 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1356611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The current median survival for glioblastoma (GBM) patients is only about 16 months, with many patients succumbing to the disease in just a matter of months, making it the most common and aggressive primary brain cancer in adults. This poor outcome is, in part, due to the lack of new treatment options with only one FDA-approved treatment in the last decade. Advances in sequencing techniques and transcriptomic analyses have revealed a vast degree of heterogeneity in GBM, from inter-patient diversity to intra-tumoral cellular variability. These cutting-edge approaches are providing new molecular insights highlighting a critical role for the tumor microenvironment (TME) as a driver of cellular plasticity and phenotypic heterogeneity. With this expanded molecular toolbox, the influence of TME factors, including endogenous (e.g., oxygen and nutrient availability and interactions with non-malignant cells) and iatrogenically induced (e.g., post-therapeutic intervention) stimuli, on tumor cell states can be explored to a greater depth. There exists a critical need for interrogating the temporal and spatial aspects of patient tumors at a high, cell-level resolution to identify therapeutically targetable states, interactions and mechanisms. In this review, we discuss advancements in our understanding of spatiotemporal diversity in GBM with an emphasis on the influence of hypoxia and immune cell interactions on tumor cell heterogeneity. Additionally, we describe specific high-resolution spatially resolved methodologies and their potential to expand the impact of pre-clinical GBM studies. Finally, we highlight clinical attempts at targeting hypoxia- and immune-related mechanisms of malignancy and the potential therapeutic opportunities afforded by single-cell and spatial exploration of GBM patient specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L. Johnson
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Hernando Lopez-Bertoni
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Oncology, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Fu Z, Chen Z, Ye J, Ji J, Ni W, Lin W, Lin H, Lu L, Zhu G, Xie Q, Yan F, Chen G, Liu F. Identifying PLAUR as a Pivotal Gene of Tumor Microenvironment and Regulating Mesenchymal Phenotype of Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:840. [PMID: 38398231 PMCID: PMC10887327 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The mesenchymal (MES) phenotype of glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and therapy-resistant subtype of GBM. The MES phenotype transition during tumor progression results from both tumor-intrinsic genetic alterations and tumor-extrinsic microenvironmental factors. In this study, we sought to identify genes that can modulate the MES phenotype via both mechanisms. By integrating weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the differential expression analysis of hypoxia-immunosuppression-related genes, we identified the plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor (PLAUR) as the hub gene. Functional enrichment analysis and GSVA analysis demonstrated that PLAUR was associated with the MES phenotype of glioma and the hypoxia-immunosuppression-related microenvironmental components. Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed that PLAUR mediated the ligand-receptor interaction between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and glioma cells. Functional experiments in vitro with cell lines or primary glioma cells and xenograft models using BALB/c nude mice confirmed the role of PLAUR in promoting the MES phenotype of GBM. Our findings indicate that PLAUR regulates both glioma cells and tumor cell-extrinsic factors that favor the MES phenotype and suggest that PLAUR might be a potential target for GBM therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaixiang Fu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Zihang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Jingya Ye
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Jianxiong Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Weifang Ni
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Weibo Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Haopu Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Liquan Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Ganggui Zhu
- Department of Lung Transplantation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China;
| | - Qin Xie
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Feng Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Gao Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Fuyi Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310000, China; (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (J.Y.); (J.J.); (W.N.); (W.L.); (H.L.); (L.L.); (Q.X.); (F.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China
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Burchett A, Siri S, Li J, Lu X, Datta M. Novel 3-D macrophage spheroid model reveals reciprocal regulation of immunomechanical stress and mechano-immunological response. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.14.580327. [PMID: 38405787 PMCID: PMC10888788 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Purpose In many diseases, an overabundance of macrophages contributes to adverse outcomes. While numerous studies have compared macrophage phenotype after mechanical stimulation or with varying local stiffness, it is unclear if and how macrophages themselves contribute to mechanical forces in their microenvironment. Methods Raw 264.7 murine macrophages were embedded in a confining agarose gel, where they proliferated to form spheroids over time. Gels were synthesized at various concentrations to tune the stiffness and treated with various growth supplements to promote macrophage polarization. The spheroids were then analyzed by immunofluorescent staining and qPCR for markers of proliferation, mechanosensory channels, and polarization. Finally, spheroid geometries were used to computationally model the strain generated in the agarose by macrophage spheroid growth. Results Macrophages form spheroids and generate growth-induced mechanical forces (i.e., solid stress) within confining agarose gels, which can be maintained for at least 16 days in culture. Increasing agarose concentration restricts spheroid expansion, promotes discoid geometries, limits gel deformation, and induces an increase in iNOS expression. LPS stimulation increases spheroid growth, though this effect is reversed with the addition of IFN-γ. Ki67 expression decreases with increasing agarose concentration, in line with the growth measurements. Conclusions Macrophages alone both respond to and generate solid stress. Understanding how macrophage generation of growth-induced solid stress responds to different environmental conditions will help to inform treatment strategies for the plethora of diseases that involve macrophage accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Burchett
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Saeed Siri
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Xin Lu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Meenal Datta
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, IN, USA
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Dussold C, Zilinger K, Turunen J, Heimberger AB, Miska J. Modulation of macrophage metabolism as an emerging immunotherapy strategy for cancer. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e175445. [PMID: 38226622 PMCID: PMC10786697 DOI: 10.1172/jci175445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunometabolism is a burgeoning field of research that investigates how immune cells harness nutrients to drive their growth and functions. Myeloid cells play a pivotal role in tumor biology, yet their metabolic influence on tumor growth and antitumor immune responses remains inadequately understood. This Review explores the metabolic landscape of tumor-associated macrophages, including the immunoregulatory roles of glucose, fatty acids, glutamine, and arginine, alongside the tools used to perturb their metabolism to promote antitumor immunity. The confounding role of metabolic inhibitors on our interpretation of myeloid metabolic phenotypes will also be discussed. A binary metabolic schema is currently used to describe macrophage immunological phenotypes, characterizing inflammatory M1 phenotypes, as supported by glycolysis, and immunosuppressive M2 phenotypes, as supported by oxidative phosphorylation. However, this classification likely underestimates the variety of states in vivo. Understanding these nuances will be critical when developing interventional metabolic strategies. Future research should focus on refining drug specificity and targeted delivery methods to maximize therapeutic efficacy.
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Yan H, Bu P. TAMC-derived creatine sustains glioblastoma growth. Cell Metab 2024; 36:1-3. [PMID: 38171329 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated myeloid cells (TAMCs) are the predominant immune population in glioblastoma (GBM), but the definite role of TAMCs in GBM tumorigenicity remains uncertain. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Rashidi et al. identify a specific population of TAMCs surrounding hypoxic regions of GBM. These TAMCs provide creatine to nearby tumor cells to promote GBM progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiwen Yan
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Pengcheng Bu
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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