bims-malgli Biomed News
on Biology of malignant gliomas
Issue of 2021‒06‒06
fourteen papers selected by
Oltea Sampetrean
Keio University
  1. Glioblastoma Metabolomics-In Vitro Studies.
  2. Altered lipid metabolism marks glioblastoma stem and non-stem cells in separate tumor niches.
  3. An immune-competent, replication-permissive Syrian Hamster glioma model for evaluating Delta-24-RGD oncolytic adenovirus.
  4. Epigenomic landscape and 3D genome structure in pediatric high-grade glioma.
  5. Mesenchymal and Proneural Subtypes of Glioblastoma Disclose Branching Based on GSC Associated Signature.
  6. Mitochondrial DNA Alterations in Glioblastoma (GBM).
  7. Lactate Reprograms Energy and Lipid Metabolism in Glucose-Deprived Oxidative Glioma Stem Cells.
  8. Choline kinase alpha 2 acts as a protein kinase to promote lipolysis of lipid droplets.
  9. Interactions between cancer cells and immune cells drive transitions to mesenchymal-like states in glioblastoma.
  10. Maintenance of WT1 expression in tumor cells is associated with a good prognosis in malignant glioma patients treated with WT1 peptide vaccine immunotherapy.
  11. Macrophage-tumor cell intertwine drives the transition into a mesenchymal-like cellular state of glioblastoma.
  12. The Acidic Brain-Glycolytic Switch in the Microenvironment of Malignant Glioma.
  13. Macrophages/Microglia in the Glioblastoma Tumor Microenvironment.
  14. Light Drives Optic Glioma Formation in a Cancer-Predisposition Syndrome.
  1. Metabolites. 2021 May 13. pii: 315. [Epub ahead of print]11(5):
    Glioblastoma Metabolomics-In Vitro Studies.
    Karol Jaroch, Paulina Modrakowska, Barbara Bojko.
      In 2016, the WHO introduced new guidelines for the diagnosis of brain gliomas based on new genomic markers. The addition of these new markers to the pre-existing diagnostic methods provided a new level of precision for the diagnosis of glioma and the prediction of treatment effectiveness. Yet, despite this new classification tool, glioblastoma (GBM), a grade IV glioma, continues to have one of the highest mortality rates among central nervous system tumors. Metabolomics is a particularly promising tool for the analysis of GBM tumors and potential methods of treating them, as it is the only "omics" approach that is capable of providing a metabolic signature of a tumor's phenotype. With careful experimental design, cell cultures can be a useful matrix in GBM metabolomics, as they ensure stable conditions and, under proper conditions, are capable of capturing different tumor phenotypes. This paper reviews in vitro metabolomic profiling studies of high-grade gliomas, with a particular focus on sample-preparation techniques, crucial metabolites identified, cell culture conditions, in vitro-in vivo extrapolation, and pharmacometabolomics. Ultimately, this review aims to elucidate potential future directions for in vitro GBM metabolomics.
    Keywords:  glioblastoma multiforme; in vitro metabolomics; phamacometabolomics
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11050315
  2. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2021 May 31. 9(1): 101
    Altered lipid metabolism marks glioblastoma stem and non-stem cells in separate tumor niches.
    Sajina Shakya, Anthony D Gromovsky, James S Hale, Arnon M Knudsen, Briana Prager, Lisa C Wallace, Luiz O F Penalva, H Alex Brown, Bjarne W Kristensen, Jeremy N Rich, Justin D Lathia, J Mark Brown, Christopher G Hubert.
      Glioblastoma (GBM) displays marked cellular and metabolic heterogeneity that varies among cellular microenvironments within a tumor. Metabolic targeting has long been advocated as a therapy against many tumors including GBM, but how lipid metabolism is altered to suit different microenvironmental conditions and whether cancer stem cells (CSCs) have altered lipid metabolism are outstanding questions in the field. We interrogated gene expression in separate microenvironments of GBM organoid models that mimic the transition between nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor pseudopalisading/perinecrotic tumor zones using spatial-capture RNA-sequencing. We revealed a striking difference in lipid processing gene expression and total lipid content between diverse cell populations from the same patient, with lipid enrichment in hypoxic organoid cores and also in perinecrotic and pseudopalisading regions of primary patient tumors. This was accompanied by regionally restricted upregulation of hypoxia-inducible lipid droplet-associated (HILPDA) gene expression in organoid cores and pseudopalisading regions of clinical GBM specimens, but not lower-grade brain tumors. CSCs have low lipid droplet accumulation compared to non-CSCs in organoid models and xenograft tumors, and prospectively sorted lipid-low GBM cells are functionally enriched for stem cell activity. Targeted lipidomic analysis of multiple patient-derived models revealed a significant shift in lipid metabolism between GBM CSCs and non-CSCs, suggesting that lipid levels may not be simply a product of the microenvironment but also may be a reflection of cellular state. CSCs had decreased levels of major classes of neutral lipids compared to non-CSCs, but had significantly increased polyunsaturated fatty acid production due to high fatty acid desaturase (FADS1/2) expression which was essential to maintain CSC viability and self-renewal. Our data demonstrate spatially and hierarchically distinct lipid metabolism phenotypes occur clinically in the majority of patients, can be recapitulated in laboratory models, and may represent therapeutic targets for GBM.
    Keywords:  Cancer stem cell; Glioblastoma; Lipid droplets; Organoid; Tumor heterogeneity
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-021-01205-7
  3. Neuro Oncol. 2021 May 31. pii: noab128. [Epub ahead of print]
    An immune-competent, replication-permissive Syrian Hamster glioma model for evaluating Delta-24-RGD oncolytic adenovirus.
    Lynette M Phillips, Shoudong Li, Joy Gumin, Marc Daou, Daniel Ledbetter, Jing Yang, Sanjay Singh, Brittany C Parker Kerrigan, Anwar Hossain, Ying Yuan, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, Juan Fueyo, Frederick F Lang.
      BACKGROUND: Oncolytic adenoviruses are promising new treatments against solid tumors, particularly for glioblastoma (GBM), and preclinical models are required to evaluate the mechanisms of efficacy. However, due to the species selectivity of adenovirus, there is currently no single animal model that supports viral replication, tumor oncolysis, and a virus-mediated immune response. To address this gap, we took advantage of the Syrian hamster to develop the first intracranial glioma model that is both adenovirus replication-permissive and immunocompetent.METHODS: We generated hamster glioma stem-like cells (hamGSCs) by transforming hamster neural stem cells with hTERT, simian virus 40 large T antigen, and h-RasV12. Using a guide-screw system, we generated an intracranial tumor model in the hamster. The efficacy of the oncolytic adenovirus Delta-24-RGD was assessed by survival studies, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry.
    RESULTS: In vitro, hamster GSCs supported viral replication and were susceptible to Delta-24-RGD mediated cell death. In vivo, hamster GSCs consistently developed into highly proliferative tumors resembling high-grade glioma. Flow cytometric analysis of hamster gliomas revealed significantly increased T cell infiltration in Delta-24-RGD infected tumors, indicative of immune activation. Treating tumor-bearing hamsters with Delta-24-RGD led to significantly increased survival compared to hamsters treated with PBS.
    CONCLUSIONS: This adenovirus-permissive, immunocompetent hamster glioma model overcomes the limitations of previous model systems and provides a novel platform in which to study the interactions between tumor cells, the host immune system, and oncolytic adenoviral therapy; understanding of which will be critical to implementing oncolytic adenovirus in the clinic.
    Keywords:  glioma; immune-competent model; oncolytic adenovirus
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noab128
  4. Sci Adv. 2021 Jun;pii: eabg4126. [Epub ahead of print]7(23):
    Epigenomic landscape and 3D genome structure in pediatric high-grade glioma.
    Juan Wang, Tina Yi-Ting Huang, Ye Hou, Elizabeth Bartom, Xinyan Lu, Ali Shilatifard, Feng Yue, Amanda Saratsis.
      Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs), including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), are morbid brain tumors. Even with treatment survival is poor, making pHGG the number one cause of cancer death in children. Up to 80% of DIPGs harbor a somatic missense mutation in genes encoding histone H3. To investigate whether H3K27M is associated with distinct chromatin structure that alters transcription regulation, we generated the first high-resolution Hi-C maps of pHGG cell lines and tumor tissue. By integrating transcriptome (RNA-seq), enhancer landscape (ChIP-seq), genome structure (Hi-C), and chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq) datasets from H3K27M and wild-type specimens, we identified tumor-specific enhancers and regulatory networks for known oncogenes. We identified genomic structural variations that lead to potential enhancer hijacking and gene coamplification, including A2M, JAG2, and FLRT1 Together, our results imply three-dimensional genome alterations may play a critical role in the pHGG epigenetic landscape and contribute to tumorigenesis.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abg4126
  5. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 07. pii: 4964. [Epub ahead of print]22(9):
    Mesenchymal and Proneural Subtypes of Glioblastoma Disclose Branching Based on GSC Associated Signature.
    Giedrius Steponaitis, Arimantas Tamasauskas.
      Glioblastomas (GBM)-the most common, therapy-resistant, and lethal tumors driven by populations of glioma stem cells (GSCs) are still on the list of the most complicated pathologies. Thus, deeper understanding and characterization of GSCs is indispensable to find suitable targets and develop more effective therapies. In the present study, we applied native glioblastoma cells and GSCs sequencing, screened for GSC-specific targets and checked if the signature is related to GBM patient pathological, clinical data as well as molecular subtypes applying TCGA cohort. Data analysis revealed that tumors of proneural and mesenchymal subtypes are branching in separate clusters based on screened gene expression. Samples of the same subtype revealed significantly different patient survival prognosis as well as recurrence chance between the clusters. Recently, different subpopulations of mesenchymal GSC demonstrating different properties were shown, which indicates possible internal heterogeneity of GBM subtypes as well. Current findings also revealed branching of molecular GBM subtypes that were significantly linked to patient outcome and that might be decided by distinct GSC subpopulations.
    Keywords:  biomarkers; glioblastoma; glioma stem cells; mesenchymal; proneural; subtyping
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094964
  6. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 29. pii: 5855. [Epub ahead of print]22(11):
    Mitochondrial DNA Alterations in Glioblastoma (GBM).
    Mariceli Baia Leão Barros, Danilo do Rosário Pinheiro, Bárbara do Nascimento Borges.
      Glioblastoma (GBM) is an extremely aggressive tumor originating from neural stem cells of the central nervous system, which has high histopathological and genomic diversity. Mitochondria are cellular organelles associated with the regulation of cellular metabolism, redox signaling, energy generation, regulation of cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Accumulation of mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leads to mitochondrial dysfunction that plays an important role in GBM pathogenesis, favoring abnormal energy and reactive oxygen species production and resistance to apoptosis and to chemotherapeutic agents. The present review summarizes the known mitochondrial DNA alterations related to GBM, their cellular and metabolic consequences, and their association with diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
    Keywords:  glioblastoma; mitochondrial DNA; mtDNA alterations
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115855
  7. Metabolites. 2021 May 18. pii: 325. [Epub ahead of print]11(5):
    Lactate Reprograms Energy and Lipid Metabolism in Glucose-Deprived Oxidative Glioma Stem Cells.
    Noriaki Minami, Kazuhiro Tanaka, Takashi Sasayama, Eiji Kohmura, Hideyuki Saya, Oltea Sampetrean.
      Fast-growing tumors satisfy their bioenergetic needs by supplementing glucose with alternative carbon sources. Cancer stem cells are the most versatile and robust cells within malignant tumors. They avoid potentially lethal metabolic and other types of stress through flexible reprogramming of relevant pathways, but it has remained unclear whether alternative carbon sources are important for the maintenance of their tumor-propagating ability. Here we assessed the ability of glycolytic and oxidative murine glioma stem cells (GSCs) to grow in an ultralow glucose medium. Sphere formation assays revealed that exogenous lactate and acetate reversed the growth impairment of oxidative GSCs in such medium. Extracellular flux analysis showed that lactate supported oxygen consumption in these cells, whereas metabolomics analysis revealed that it increased the intracellular levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, ATP, and GTP as well as increased adenylate and guanylate charge. Lactate also reversed the depletion of choline apparent in the glucose-deprived cells as well as reprogrammed phospholipid and fatty acid biosynthesis. This metabolic reprogramming was associated with a more aggressive phenotype of intracranial tumors formed by lactate-treated GSCs. Our results thus suggest that lactate is an important alternative energetic and biosynthetic substrate for oxidative GSCs, and that it sustains their growth under conditions of glucose deprivation.
    Keywords:  cancer stem cell; glioma; glioma stem cell; glucose deprivation; lactate; lipid metabolism; metabolic cooperation; metabolic reprogramming; metabolic symbiosis; metabolism
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11050325
  8. Mol Cell. 2021 May 25. pii: S1097-2765(21)00362-2. [Epub ahead of print]
    Choline kinase alpha 2 acts as a protein kinase to promote lipolysis of lipid droplets.
    Rui Liu, Jong-Ho Lee, Jingyi Li, Rilei Yu, Lin Tan, Yan Xia, Yanhua Zheng, Xue-Li Bian, Philip L Lorenzi, Qianming Chen, Zhimin Lu.
      Lipid droplets are important for cancer cell growth and survival. However, the mechanism underlying the initiation of lipid droplet lipolysis is not well understood. We demonstrate here that glucose deprivation induces the binding of choline kinase (CHK) α2 to lipid droplets, which is sequentially mediated by AMPK-dependent CHKα2 S279 phosphorylation and KAT5-dependent CHKα2 K247 acetylation. Importantly, CHKα2 with altered catalytic domain conformation functions as a protein kinase and phosphorylates PLIN2 at Y232 and PLIN3 at Y251. The phosphorylated PLIN2/3 dissociate from lipid droplets and are degraded by Hsc70-mediated autophagy, thereby promoting lipid droplet lipolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and brain tumor growth. In addition, levels of CHKα2 S279 phosphorylation, CHKα2 K247 acetylation, and PLIN2/3 phosphorylation are positively correlated with one another in human glioblastoma specimens and are associated with poor prognosis in glioblastoma patients. These findings underscore the role of CHKα2 as a protein kinase in lipolysis and glioblastoma development.
    Keywords:  AMPK; KAT5; PLIN2/3; acetylation; autophagy; choline kinase; lipid droplet; lipolysis; phosphorylation; tumorigenesis
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2021.05.005
  9. Cancer Cell. 2021 May 25. pii: S1535-6108(21)00268-3. [Epub ahead of print]
    Interactions between cancer cells and immune cells drive transitions to mesenchymal-like states in glioblastoma.
    Toshiro Hara, Rony Chanoch-Myers, Nathan D Mathewson, Chad Myskiw, Lyla Atta, Lillian Bussema, Stephen W Eichhorn, Alissa C Greenwald, Gabriela S Kinker, Christopher Rodman, L Nicolas Gonzalez Castro, Hiroaki Wakimoto, Orit Rozenblatt-Rosen, Xiaowei Zhuang, Jean Fan, Tony Hunter, Inder M Verma, Kai W Wucherpfennig, Aviv Regev, Mario L Suvà, Itay Tirosh.
      The mesenchymal subtype of glioblastoma is thought to be determined by both cancer cell-intrinsic alterations and extrinsic cellular interactions, but remains poorly understood. Here, we dissect glioblastoma-to-microenvironment interactions by single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of human tumors and model systems, combined with functional experiments. We demonstrate that macrophages induce a transition of glioblastoma cells into mesenchymal-like (MES-like) states. This effect is mediated, both in vitro and in vivo, by macrophage-derived oncostatin M (OSM) that interacts with its receptors (OSMR or LIFR) in complex with GP130 on glioblastoma cells and activates STAT3. We show that MES-like glioblastoma states are also associated with increased expression of a mesenchymal program in macrophages and with increased cytotoxicity of T cells, highlighting extensive alterations of the immune microenvironment with potential therapeutic implications.
    Keywords:  GBM; OSM; glioblastoma; macrophage; mesenchymal; scRNA-seq; tumor microenvironment
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2021.05.002
  10. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2021 Jun 05.
    Maintenance of WT1 expression in tumor cells is associated with a good prognosis in malignant glioma patients treated with WT1 peptide vaccine immunotherapy.
    Chisato Yokota, Naoki Kagawa, Koji Takano, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Manabu Kinoshita, Noriyuki Kijima, Yusuke Oji, Yoshihiro Oka, Haruo Sugiyama, Akihiro Tsuboi, Shuichi Izumoto, Haruhiko Kishima, Naoya Hashimoto.
      We have previously revealed the overexpression of Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) in malignant glioma and developed WT1 peptide vaccine cancer immunotherapy. A phase II clinical trial indicated the clinical efficacy of the WT1 peptide vaccine for recurrent malignant glioma. Here, we aimed to investigate the immunological microenvironment in glioma tissues before and after WT1 peptide vaccine treatment. Paired tissue samples were obtained from 20 malignant glioma patients who had received the WT1 peptide vaccine for > 3 months and experienced tumor progression, confirmed radiographically and/or clinically, during vaccination. We discovered that the expression of WT1 and HLA class I antigens in the tumor cells significantly decreased after vaccination. Maintenance of WT1 expression, which is the target molecule of immunotherapy, in tumor cells during the vaccination period was significantly associated with a longer progression-free and overall survival. A high expression of HLA class I antigens and low CD4+/CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) ratio in pre-vaccination specimens, were also associated with a good prognosis. No statistically significant difference existed in the number of infiltrating CD3+ or CD8+ T cells between the pre- and post-vaccination specimens, whereas the number of infiltrating CD4+ T cells significantly decreased in the post-vaccination specimens. This study provides insight into the mechanisms of intra-tumoral immune reaction/escape during WT1 peptide vaccine treatment and suggests potential clinical strategies for cancer immunotherapy.
    Keywords:  Cancer vaccine; Glioma; Immunotherapy; Intra-tumor immune response; Wilms tumor gene 1
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-021-02954-z
  11. Cancer Cell. 2021 May 22. pii: S1535-6108(21)00269-5. [Epub ahead of print]
    Macrophage-tumor cell intertwine drives the transition into a mesenchymal-like cellular state of glioblastoma.
    Zhihong Chen, Dolores Hambardzumyan.
      Macrophages are the major non-neoplastic infiltrates in the glioblastoma microenvironment. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Hara et al. (2021) demonstrate that macrophages induce a transition of glioblastoma cells into the mesenchymal-like cellular state associated with an increased mesenchymal program in macrophages themselves and enhanced cytotoxicity of T cells.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2021.05.003
  12. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 24. pii: 5518. [Epub ahead of print]22(11):
    The Acidic Brain-Glycolytic Switch in the Microenvironment of Malignant Glioma.
    Anna Maria Reuss, Dominik Groos, Michael Buchfelder, Nicolai Savaskan.
      Malignant glioma represents a fatal disease with a poor prognosis and development of resistance mechanisms against conventional therapeutic approaches. The distinct tumor zones of this heterogeneous neoplasm develop their own microenvironment, in which subpopulations of cancer cells communicate. Adaptation to hypoxia in the center of the expanding tumor mass leads to the glycolytic and angiogenic switch, accompanied by upregulation of different glycolytic enzymes, transporters, and other metabolites. These processes render the tumor microenvironment more acidic, remodel the extracellular matrix, and create energy gradients for the metabolic communication between different cancer cells in distinct tumor zones. Escape mechanisms from hypoxia-induced cell death and energy deprivation are the result. The functional consequences are more aggressive and malignant behavior with enhanced proliferation and survival, migration and invasiveness, and the induction of angiogenesis. In this review, we go from the biochemical principles of aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis over the glycolytic switch, regulated by the key transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, to other important metabolic players like the monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs)1 and 4. We discuss the metabolic symbiosis model via lactate shuttling in the acidic tumor microenvironment and highlight the functional consequences of the glycolytic switch on glioma malignancy. Furthermore, we illustrate regulation by micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) and the connection between isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status and glycolytic metabolism. Finally, we give an outlook about the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of the glycolytic switch and the relation to tumor immunity in malignant glioma.
    Keywords:  HIF; MCT1; MCT4; acidic; angiogenesis; carbonic anhydrase (CA)IX; glioma; glycolytic; lactate; tumor microenvironment
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115518
  13. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 May 28. pii: 5775. [Epub ahead of print]22(11):
    Macrophages/Microglia in the Glioblastoma Tumor Microenvironment.
    Jun Ma, Clark C Chen, Ming Li.
      The complex interaction between glioblastoma and its microenvironment has been recognized for decades. Among various immune profiles, the major population is tumor-associated macrophage, with microglia as its localized homolog. The present definition of such myeloid cells is based on a series of cell markers. These good sentinel cells experience significant changes, facilitating glioblastoma development and protecting it from therapeutic treatments. Huge, complicated mechanisms are involved during the overall processes. A lot of effort has been dedicated to crack the mysterious codes in macrophage/microglia recruiting, activating, reprogramming, and functioning. We have made our path. With more and more key factors identified, a lot of new therapeutic methods could be explored to break the ominous loop, to enhance tumor sensitivity to treatments, and to improve the prognosis of glioblastoma patients. However, it might be a synergistic system rather than a series of clear, stepwise events. There are still significant challenges before the light of truth can shine onto the field. Here, we summarize recent advances in this field, reviewing the path we have been on and where we are now.
    Keywords:  glioblastoma; glioblastoma-associated macrophages/microglia; macrophage; microglia; tumor microenvironment
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115775
  14. Cancer Discov. 2021 Jun 04.
    Light Drives Optic Glioma Formation in a Cancer-Predisposition Syndrome.
      In a model of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), light exposure during a critical period promoted tumorigenesis.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-RW2021-080
This page is being maintained by Thomas Krichel. It was last updated on 2021‒07‒23 at 10:20:54.