Glioblastomas exploit truncated O - linked glycans for local and distant immune modulation via the macrophage galactose-type lectin

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain malignancy, for which immunotherapy has failed to prolong survival. Glioblastoma-associated immune infiltrates are dominated by tumor-associated macrophages and microglia (TAMs), which are key mediators of immune suppression and resistance to immunotherapy. We and others demonstrated aberrant expression of glycans in different cancer types. These tumor-associated glycans trigger inhibitory signaling in TAMs through glycan-binding receptors. We investigated the glioblastoma glycocalyx as a tumor-intrinsic immune suppressor. We detected increased expression of both tumor-associated truncated O-linked glycans and their receptor, macrophage galactose-type lectin (MGL), on CD163+ TAMs in glioblastoma patient-derived tumor tissues. In an immunocompetent orthotopic glioma mouse model overexpressing truncated O-linked glycans (MGL ligands), high-dimensional mass cytometry revealed a wide heterogeneity of infiltrating myeloid cells with increased infiltration of PD-L1+ TAMs as well as distant alterations in the bone marrow (BM). Our results demonstrate that glioblastomas exploit cell surface O-linked glycans for local and distant immune modulation.</p

Identification of temozolomide resistance factors in glioblastoma via integrative miRNA/mRNA regulatory network analysis

Drug resistance is a major issue in the treatment of glioblastoma. Almost all glioblastomas are intrinsically resistant to chemotherapeutic temozolomide (TMZ) or develop resistance during treatment. The interaction networks of microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs likely regulate most biological processes and can be employed to better understand complex processes including drug resistance in cancer. In this study, we examined if integrative miRNA/mRNA network analysis using the web-service tool mirConnX could be used to identify drug resistance factors in glioblastoma. We used TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cells and their integrated miRNA/mRNA networks to identify TMZ-sensitizing factors. TMZ resistance was previously induced in glioblastoma cell lines U87, Hs683, and LNZ308. miRNA/mRNA expression profiling of these cells and integration of the profiles using mirConnX resulted in the identification of plant homeodomain (PHD)-like finger 6 (PHF6) as a potential TMZ-sensitizing factor in resistant glioblastoma cells. Analysis of PHF6 expression showed significant upregulation in glioblastoma as compared to normal tissue. Interference with PHF6 expression in three TMZ-resistant subclones significantly enhanced TMZ-induced cell kill in two of these cell lines. Altogether, these results demonstrate that mirConnX is a feasible and useful tool to investigate miRNA/mRNA interactions in TMZ-resistant cells and has potential to identify drug resistance factors in glioblastoma

Mature astrocytes in the adult human neocortex express the early neuronal marker doublecortin.

Doublecortin (DCX) is a microtubule-associated protein expressed by migrating neuroblasts and is considered to be a reliable marker of neurogenesis. DCX has been used to study the relation between neurogenesis in adult human brain and neurological and neurodegenerative disease processes in the search for putative therapeutic strategies. Using autopsy and surgically resected tissue from a total of 60 patients, we present evidence that DCX is present in several cellular compartments of differentiated astrocytes in the adult human neocortex. One of these compartments consisted of peripheral processes forming punctate envelopes around mature neuronal cell bodies. Markers of glial activation, such as GFAP and HLA, were not associated with DCX immunoreactivity, however, the presence of cytoarchitectural alterations tended to correlate with reduced DCX staining of astrocytic somata. Interestingly, local Alzheimer pathology that showed no relation with cytoarchitectural abnormalities appeared to correlate negatively with the expression of DCX in the astrocytic somata. In combination with the literature our data support the view that DCX in the adult human neocortex may have a function in glia-to-neuron communication. Furthermore, our result

Oncolytic virotherapy in glioblastoma patients induces a tumor macrophage phenotypic shift leading to an altered glioblastoma microenvironment

Stemcel biology/Regenerative medicine (incl. bloodtransfusion

WEE1 Kinase Inhibition Enhances the Radiation Response of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a fatal pediatric disease. Thus far, no therapeutic agent has proven beneficial in the treatment of this malignancy. Therefore, conventional DNA-damaging radiotherapy remains the standard treatment, providing transient neurologic improvement without improving the probability of overall survival. During radiotherapy, WEE1 kinase controls the G(2) cell-cycle checkpoint, allowing for repair of irradiation (IR)-induced DNA damage. Here, we show that WEE1 kinase is one of the highest overexpressed kinases in primary DIPG tissues compared with matching non-neoplastic brain tissues. Inhibition of WEE1 by MK-1775 treatment of DIPG cells inhibited the IR-induced WEE1-mediated phosphorylation of CDC2, resulting in reduced G(2)-M arrest and decreased cell viability. Finally, we show that MK-1775 enhances the radiation response of E98-Fluc-mCherry DIPG mouse xenografts. Altogether, these results show that inhibition of WEE1 kinase in conjunction with radiotherapy holds potential as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of DIP