1
|
Riva M, Wouters R, Weerasekera A, Belderbos S, Nittner D, Thal DR, Baert T, Giovannoni R, Gsell W, Himmelreich U, Van Ranst M, Coosemans A. CT-2A neurospheres-derived high-grade glioma in mice: a new model to address tumor stem cells and immunosuppression. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.044552. [PMID: 31511246 PMCID: PMC6777368 DOI: 10.1242/bio.044552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, several promising treatments for high-grade gliomas (HGGs) failed to provide significant benefit when translated from the preclinical setting to patients. Improving the animal models is fundamental to overcoming this translational gap. To address this need, we developed and comprehensively characterized a new in vivo model based on the orthotopic implantation of CT-2A cells cultured in neurospheres (NS/CT-2A). Murine CT-2A methylcholanthrene-induced HGG cells (C57BL/6 background) were cultured in monolayers (ML) or NS and orthotopically inoculated in syngeneic animals. ML/CT-2A and NS/CT-2A tumors' characterization included the analysis of tumor growth, immune microenvironment, glioma stem cells (GSCs), vascularization and metabolites. The immuno-modulating properties of NS/CT-2A and ML/CT-2A cells on splenocytes were tested in vitro. Mice harboring NS/CT-2A tumors had a shorter survival than those harboring ML/CT-2A tumors (P=0.0033). Compared to standard ML/CT-2A tumors, NS/CT-2A tumors showed more abundant GSCs (P=0.0002 and 0.0770 for Nestin and CD133, respectively) and regulatory T cells (Tregs, P=0.0074), and a strong tendency towards an increased vascularization (P=0.0503). There were no significant differences in metabolites' composition between NS/ and ML/CT-2A tumors. In vitro, NS were able to drive splenocytes towards a more immunosuppressive status by reducing CD8+ T cells (P=0.0354) and by promoting Tregs (P=0.0082), macrophages (MF, P=0.0019) and their M2 subset (P=0.0536). Compared to standard ML/CT-2A tumors, NS/CT-2A tumors show a more aggressive phenotype with increased immunosuppression and GSCs proliferation. Because of these specific features, the NS/CT-2A model represents a clinically relevant platform in the search for new HGG treatments aimed at reducing immunosuppression and eliminating GSCs. Summary: The NS/CT-2A tumor model represents a valuable research platform for the study of innovative treatments aimed at eliminating GSCs and reversing the tumor-induced immunosuppression in HGGs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Riva
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium .,Department of Neurosurgery, Erasme Hospital, Bruxelles 1070, Belgium
| | - Roxanne Wouters
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Akila Weerasekera
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Sarah Belderbos
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - David Nittner
- Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics - InfraMouse, VIB, University of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Dietmar R Thal
- Laboratory of Neuropathology, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.,Department of Pathology, UZ-Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Thaïs Baert
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.,Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Kliniken Essen Mitte (KEM), Essen 2910, Germany
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Willy Gsell
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Marc Van Ranst
- Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - An Coosemans
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.,Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Leuven Cancer Institute, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|