Immune landscape of a genetically engineered murine model of glioma compared with human glioma

In vivo mouse models for adult brain tumors: Exploring tumorigenesis and advancing immunotherapy development

Brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma (GBM), are devastating and challenging to treat, with a low 5-year survival rate of only 6.6%. Mouse models are established to understand tumorigenesis and develop new therapeutic strategies. Large-scale genomic studies have facilitated the identification of genetic alterations driving human brain tumor development and progression. Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) with clinically relevant genetic alterations are widely used to investigate tumor origin. Additionally, syngeneic implantation models, utilizing cell lines derived from GEMMs or other sources, are popular for their consistent and relatively short latency period, addressing various brain cancer research questions. In recent years, the success of immunotherapy in specific cancer types has led to a surge in cancer immunology-related research which specifically necessitates the utilization of immunocompetent mouse models. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of GEMMs and syngeneic mouse models for adult brain tumors, emphasizing key features such as model origin, genetic alteration background, oncogenic mechanisms, and immune-related characteristics. Our review serves as a valuable resource for the brain tumor research community, aiding in the selection of appropriate models to study cancer immunology.

Metabolic programs drive function of therapeutic NK cells in hypoxic tumor environments

Limited oxygen (hypoxia) in solid tumors poses a challenge to successful immunotherapy with natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells have impaired cytotoxicity when cultured in hypoxia (1% oxygen) but not physiologic (>5%) or atmospheric oxygen (20%). We found that changes to cytotoxicity were regulated at the transcriptional level and accompanied by metabolic dysregulation. Dosing with interleukin-15 (IL-15) enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity in hypoxia, but preactivation with feeder cells bearing IL-21 and 4-1BBL was even better. Preactivation resulted in less perturbed metabolism in hypoxia; greater resistance to oxidative stress; and no hypoxia-induced loss of transcription factors (T-bet and Eomes), activating receptors, adhesion molecules (CD2), and cytotoxic proteins (TRAIL and FasL). There remained a deficit in CD122/IL-2Rβ when exposed to hypoxia, which affected IL-15 signaling. However, tri-specific killer engager molecules that deliver IL-15 in the context of anti-CD16/FcγRIII were able to bypass this deficit, enhancing cytotoxicity of both fresh and preactivated NK cells in hypoxia.

Is modulation of immune checkpoints on glioblastoma-infiltrating myeloid cells a viable therapeutic strategy?

The field of immunology has traditionally focused on immune checkpoint modulation of adaptive immune cells. However, many malignancies such as glioblastoma are mostly devoid of T cells and rather are enriched with immunosuppressive myeloid cells of the innate immune system. While some immune checkpoint targets are shared between adaptive and innate immunity, myeloid-specific checkpoints could also serve as potential therapeutics. To better understand the impact of immune checkpoint blockade on myeloid cells, we systematically summarize the current literature focusing on the direct immunological effects of PD-L1/PD-1, CD24/Siglec-10, collagen/LAIR-1, CX3CL1/CX3CR1, and CXCL10/CXCR3. By synthesizing the molecular mechanisms and the translational implications, we aim to prioritize agents in this category of therapeutics for glioblastoma.

Copy number gain of FAM131B-AS2 promotes the progression of glioblastoma by mitigating replication stress

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by chromosome 7 copy number gains, notably 7q34, potentially contributing to therapeutic resistance, yet the underlying oncogenes have not been fully characterized. Pertinently, the significance of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in this context has gained attention, necessitating further exploration.

METHODS

FAM131B-AS2 was quantified in GBM samples and cells using qPCR. Overexpression and knockdown of FAM131B-AS2 in GBM cells were used to study its functions in vivo and in vitro. The mechanisms of FAM131B-AS2 were studied using RNA-seq, qPCR, Western blotting, RNA pull-down, coimmunoprecipitation assays, and mass spectrometry analysis. The phenotypic changes that resulted from FAM131B-AS2 variation were evaluated through CCK8 assay, EdU assay, comet assay, and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

Our analysis of 149 primary GBM patients identified FAM131B-AS2, a lncRNA located in the 7q34 region, whose upregulation predicts poor survival. Mechanistically, FAM131B-AS2 is a crucial regulator of the replication stress response, stabilizing replication protein A1 through recruitment of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 7 and activating the ataxia telangiectasia and rad3-related protein kinase pathway to protect single-stranded DNA from breakage. Furthermore, FAM131B-AS2 overexpression inhibited CD8+ T-cell infiltration, while FAM131B-AS2 inhibition activated the cGAS-STING pathway, increasing lymphocyte infiltration and improving the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

FAM131B-AS2 emerges as a promising indicator for adjuvant therapy response and could also be a viable candidate for combined immunotherapies against GBMs.

KR158 Spheres Harboring Slow-Cycling Cells Recapitulate High-Grade Glioma Features in an Immunocompetent System

Glioblastoma (GBM) poses a significant challenge in clinical oncology due to its aggressive nature, heterogeneity, and resistance to therapies. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a critical role in GBM, particularly in treatment resistance and tumor relapse, emphasizing the need to comprehend the mechanisms regulating these cells. Also, their multifaceted contributions to the tumor microenvironment (TME) underline their significance, driven by their unique properties. This study aimed to characterize glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), specifically slow-cycling cells (SCCs), in an immunocompetent murine GBM model to explore their similarities with their human counterparts. Using the KR158 mouse model, we confirmed that SCCs isolated from this model exhibited key traits and functional properties akin to human SCCs. KR158 murine SCCs, expanded in the gliomasphere assay, demonstrated sphere forming ability, self-renewing capacity, positive tumorigenicity, enhanced stemness and resistance to chemotherapy. Together, our findings validate the KR158 murine model as a framework to investigate GSCs and SCCs in GBM pathology, and explore specifically the SCC-immune system communications, understand their role in disease progression, and evaluate the effect of therapeutic strategies targeting these specific connections.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) regulates phagocytosis in glioblastoma

BACKGROUND

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are central nervous system tumors that resist standard-of-care interventions and even immune checkpoint blockade. Myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment can contribute to GBM progression; therefore, emerging immunotherapeutic approaches include reprogramming these cells to achieve desirable antitumor activity. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is a myeloid signaling regulator that has been implicated in a variety of cancers and neurological diseases with contrasting functions, but its role in GBM immunopathology and progression is still under investigation.

METHODS

Our reverse translational investigations leveraged single-cell RNA sequencing and cytometry of human gliomas to characterize TREM2 expression across myeloid subpopulations. Using 2 distinct murine glioma models, we examined the role of Trem2 on tumor progression and immune modulation of myeloid cells. Furthermore, we designed a method of tracking phagocytosis of glioma cells in vivo and employed in vitro assays to mechanistically understand the influence of TREM2 signaling on tumor uptake.

RESULTS

We discovered that TREM2 expression does not correlate with immunosuppressive pathways, but rather showed strong a positive association with the canonical phagocytosis markers lysozyme (LYZ) and macrophage scavenger receptor (CD163) in gliomas. While Trem2 deficiency was found to be dispensable for gliomagenesis, Trem2+ myeloid cells display enhanced tumor uptake compared to Trem2- cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that TREM2 mediates phagocytosis via Syk signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that TREM2 is not associated with immunosuppression in gliomas. Instead, TREM2 is an important regulator of phagocytosis that may be exploited as a potential therapeutic strategy for brain tumors.

KR158 spheres harboring slow-cycling cells recapitulate GBM features in an immunocompetent system

Glioblastoma (GBM) poses a significant challenge in clinical oncology due to its aggressive nature, heterogeneity, and resistance to therapies. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a critical role in GBM, particularly in treatment-resistance and tumor relapse, emphasizing the need to comprehend the mechanisms regulating these cells. Also, their multifaceted contributions to the tumor-microenvironment (TME) underline their significance, driven by their unique properties. This study aimed to characterize glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), specifically slow-cycling cells (SCCs), in an immunocompetent murine GBM model to explore their similarities with their human counterparts. Using the KR158 mouse model, we confirmed that SCCs isolated from this model exhibited key traits and functional properties akin to human SCCs. KR158 murine SCCs, expanded in the gliomasphere assay, demonstrated sphere forming ability, self-renewing capacity, positive tumorigenicity, enhanced stemness and resistance to chemotherapy. Together, our findings validate the KR158 murine model as a framework to investigate GSCs and SCCs in GBM-pathology, and explore specifically the SCC-immune system communications, understand their role in disease progression, and evaluate the effect of therapeutic strategies targeting these specific connections.

Advances in glioma models using in vivo electroporation to highjack neurodevelopmental processes

Glioma is the most prevalent type of neurological malignancies. Despite decades of efforts in neurosurgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, glioma remains one of the most treatment-resistant brain tumors with unfavorable outcomes. Recent progresses in genomic and epigenetic profiling have revealed new concepts of genetic events involved in the etiology of gliomas in humans, meanwhile, revolutionary technologies in gene editing and delivery allows to code these genetic "events" in animals to genetically engineer glioma models. This approach models the initiation and progression of gliomas in a natural microenvironment with an intact immune system and facilitates probing therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on recent advances in in vivo electroporation-based glioma modeling and outline the established genetically engineered glioma models (GEGMs).

Translational Models in Glioma Immunotherapy Research

Immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic domain for the treatment of gliomas. However, clinical trials of various immunotherapeutic modalities have not yielded significant improvements in patient survival. Preclinical models for glioma research should faithfully represent clinically observed features regarding glioma behavior, mutational load, tumor interactions with stromal cells, and immunosuppressive mechanisms. In this review, we dive into the common preclinical models used in glioma immunology, discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and highlight examples of their utilization in translational research.

Glioblastoma heterogeneity at single cell resolution

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the deadliest types of cancer and highly refractory to chemoradiation and immunotherapy. One of the main reasons for this resistance to therapy lies within the heterogeneity of the tumor and its associated microenvironment. The vast diversity of cell states, composition of cells, and phenotypical characteristics makes it difficult to accurately classify GBM into distinct subtypes and find effective therapies. The advancement of sequencing technologies in recent years has further corroborated the heterogeneity of GBM at the single cell level. Recent studies have only begun to elucidate the different cell states present in GBM and how they correlate with sensitivity to therapy. Furthermore, it has become clear that GBM heterogeneity not only depends on intrinsic factors but also strongly differs between new and recurrent GBM, and treatment naïve and experienced patients. Understanding and connecting the complex cellular network that underlies GBM heterogeneity will be indispensable in finding new ways to tackle this deadly disease. Here, we present an overview of the multiple layers of GBM heterogeneity and discuss novel findings in the age of single cell technologies.

Tumor progression is independent of tumor-associated macrophages in cell lineage-based mouse models of glioblastoma

Macrophage targeting therapies have had limited clinical success in glioblastoma (GBM). Further understanding the GBM immune microenvironment is critical for refining immunotherapeutic approaches. Here, we use genetically engineered mouse models and orthotopic transplantation-based GBM models with identical driver mutations and unique cells of origin to examine the role of tumor cell lineage in shaping the immune microenvironment and response to tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) depletion therapy. We show that oligodendrocyte progenitor cell lineage-associated GBMs (Type 2) recruit more immune infiltrates and specifically monocyte-derived macrophages than subventricular zone neural stem cell-associated GBMs (Type 1). We then devise a TAM depletion system that offers a uniquely robust and sustained TAM depletion. We find that extensive TAM depletion in these cell lineage-based GBM models affords no survival benefit. Despite the lack of survival benefit of TAM depletion, we show that Type 1 and Type 2 GBMs have unique molecular responses to TAM depletion. In sum, we demonstrate that GBM cell lineage influences TAM ontogeny and abundance and molecular response to TAM depletion.

T cell exhaustion in malignant gliomas

Despite advances in understanding tumor biology, malignant gliomas remain incurable. While immunotherapy has improved outcomes in other cancer types, comparable efficacy has not yet been demonstrated for primary cancers of the central nervous system (CNS). T cell exhaustion, defined as a progressive decrease in effector function, sustained expression of inhibitory receptors, metabolic dysfunction, and distinct epigenetic and transcriptional alterations, contributes to the failure of immunotherapy in the CNS. Herein, we describe recent advances in understanding the drivers of T cell exhaustion in the glioma microenvironment. We discuss the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that contribute to exhaustion and highlight potential avenues for reversing this phenotype. Our ability to directly target specific immunosuppressive drivers in brain cancers would be a major advance in immunotherapy.

Pre-clinical models for evaluating glioma targeted immunotherapies

Gliomas have an extremely poor prognosis in both adult and pediatric patient populations as these tumors are known to grow aggressively and respond poorly to standard of care treatment. Currently, treatment for gliomas involves surgical resection followed by chemoradiation therapy. However, some gliomas, such as diffuse midline glioma, have more limited treatment options such as radiotherapy alone. Even with these interventions, the prognosis for those diagnosed with a glioma remains poor. Immunotherapy is highly effective for some cancers and there is great interest in the development of effective immunotherapies for the treatment of gliomas. Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapies targeted to gliomas have largely failed to date, and we believe this is partially due to the poor choice in pre-clinical mouse models that are used to evaluate these immunotherapies. A key consideration in evaluating new immunotherapies is the selection of pre-clinical models that mimic the glioma-immune response in humans. Multiple pre-clinical options are currently available, each one with their own benefits and limitations. Informed selection of pre-clinical models for testing can facilitate translation of more promising immunotherapies in the clinical setting. In this review we plan to present glioma cell lines and mouse models, as well as alternatives to mouse models, that are available for pre-clinical glioma immunotherapy studies. We plan to discuss considerations of model selection that should be made for future studies as we hope this review can serve as a guide for investigators as they choose which model is best suited for their study.

Quaking but not parkin is the major tumor suppressor in 6q deleted region in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a high-grade, aggressive brain tumor with dismal median survival time of 15 months. Chromosome 6q (Ch6q) is a hotspot of genomic alterations, which is commonly deleted or hyper-methylated in GBM. Two neighboring genes in this region, QKI and PRKN have been appointed as tumor suppressors in GBM. While a genetically modified mouse model (GEMM) of GBM has been successfully generated with Qk deletion in the central nervous system (CNS), in vivo genetic evidence supporting the tumor suppressor function of Prkn has not been established. In the present study, we generated a mouse model with Prkn-null allele and conditional Trp53 and Pten deletions in the neural stem cells (NSCs) and compared the tumorigenicity of this model to our previous GBM model with Qk deletion within the same system. We find that Qk but not Prkn is the potent tumor suppressor in the frequently altered Ch6q region in GBM.