Glioblastomas are aggressive brain tumors for which effective therapy is still lacking, resulting in dismal survival rates. These tumors display significant phenotypic plasticity, harboring diverse cell populations ranging from tumor core cells to dispersed, highly invasive cells. Neuron navigator 3 (NAV3), a microtubule-associated protein affecting microtubule growth and dynamics, is downregulated in various cancers, including glioblastoma, and has thus been considered a tumor suppressor. In this study, we challenge this designation and unveil distinct expression patterns of NAV3 across different invasion phenotypes. Using glioblastoma cell lines and patient-derived glioma stem-like cell cultures, we disclose an upregulation of NAV3 in invading glioblastoma cells, contrasting with its lower expression in cells residing in tumor spheroid cores. Furthermore, we establish an association between low and high NAV3 expression and the amoeboid and mesenchymal invasive phenotype, respectively, and demonstrate that overexpression of NAV3 directly stimulates glioblastoma invasive behavior in both 2D and 3D environments. Consistently, we observed increased NAV3 expression in cells migrating along blood vessels in mouse xenografts. Overall, our results shed light on the role of NAV3 in glioblastoma invasion, providing insights into this lethal aspect of glioblastoma behavior.
- MeSH
- fenotyp * MeSH
- glioblastom * patologie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- invazivní růst nádoru * genetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- membránové proteiny MeSH
- mikrotubuly metabolismus MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádory mozku * patologie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- pohyb buněk genetika fyziologie MeSH
- proteiny nervové tkáně metabolismus genetika MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- MeSH
- chronická lymfatická leukemie genetika MeSH
- DNA-dependentní DNA-polymerasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- DNA-primasa genetika metabolismus MeSH
- extracelulární matrix metabolismus patologie MeSH
- geny p53 genetika MeSH
- glioblastom metabolismus patologie MeSH
- pericyty metabolismus patologie MeSH
- protein BRCA1 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- souhrny MeSH
Gliomagenesis induces profound changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the brain. In this study, we identified a cellular population responsible for the increased deposition of collagen I and fibronectin in glioblastoma. Elevated levels of the fibrillar proteins collagen I and fibronectin were associated with the expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which is predominantly found in pericyte-like cells in glioblastoma. FAP+ pericyte-like cells were present in regions rich in collagen I and fibronectin in biopsy material and produced substantially more collagen I and fibronectin in vitro compared to other cell types found in the GBM microenvironment. Using mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that 3D matrices produced by FAP+ pericyte-like cells are rich in collagen I and fibronectin and contain several basement membrane proteins. This expression pattern differed markedly from glioma cells. Finally, we have shown that ECM produced by FAP+ pericyte-like cells enhances the migration of glioma cells including glioma stem-like cells, promotes their adhesion, and activates focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling. Taken together, our findings establish FAP+ pericyte-like cells as crucial producers of a complex ECM rich in collagen I and fibronectin, facilitating the dissemination of glioma cells through FAK activation.
- MeSH
- endopeptidasy MeSH
- extracelulární matrix * metabolismus patologie MeSH
- fibronektiny * metabolismus MeSH
- glioblastom patologie metabolismus MeSH
- gliom * patologie metabolismus MeSH
- kolagen typu I metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- membránové proteiny metabolismus MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádorové mikroprostředí fyziologie MeSH
- nádory mozku * patologie metabolismus MeSH
- pericyty * metabolismus patologie MeSH
- pohyb buněk fyziologie MeSH
- serinové endopeptidasy metabolismus MeSH
- želatinasy metabolismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is a malignant and aggressive type of central nevous system malignancy characterized by many distinct biological features including extensive hypoxia. Hypoxia in glioblatoma associates with complex signaling patterns including activation of several pathways such as MAPK, PI3K-AKT/mTOR and IL-6/JAK/STAT3 with the master regulator HIF-1, which in turn drive particular tumor behaviors determining, in the end, treatment outcomes and patients fate. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the expression of selected hypoxia related factors including STAT3 in a small set of long-term surviving glioma patients. METHODS: The expression of selected hypoxia related factors including STAT3 was evaluated in a time series of formalin fixed paraffin embedded and cryopreserved glioma samples from repeatedly resected patients. In addition, comparative studies were also conducted on primary glioma cells derived from original patient samples, stabilized glioma cell lines and tumor-xenograft mice model. Obtained data were correlated with clinical findings too. RESULTS: Glioblastoma samples of the analyzed patients displayed heterogeneity in the expression of hypoxia- related and EMT markers with most interesting trend being observed in pSTAT3. This heterogeneity was subsequently confirmed in other employed models (primocultures derived from glioblastoma tissue resections, cryopreserved tumor specimens, stabilized glioblastoma cell line in vitro and in vivo) and concerned, in particular, STAT3 expression which remained stable. In addition, subsequent studies on the role of STAT3 in the context of glioblastoma hypoxia demonstrated opposing effects of its deletion on cell viability as well as the expression of hypoxia and EMT markers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suport the importance of STAT3 expression and activity in the context of hypoxia in malignant glioblastoma long-term surviving glioma patients while emphasizing heterogeneity of biological outcomes in varying employed tumor models.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- glioblastom metabolismus patologie genetika MeSH
- gliom * metabolismus patologie genetika MeSH
- hypoxie metabolismus MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nádorové biomarkery metabolismus MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádory mozku metabolismus patologie genetika MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u nádorů MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- transkripční faktor STAT3 * metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Despite strides in immunotherapy, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains challenging due to low inherent immunogenicity and suppressive tumor microenvironment. Converting "cold" GBMs to "hot" is crucial for immune activation and improved outcomes. This study comprehensively characterized a therapeutic vaccination strategy for preclinical GBM models. The vaccine consists of Mannan-BAM-anchored irradiated whole tumor cells, Toll-like receptor ligands [lipoteichoic acid (LTA), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly (I:C)), and resiquimod (R-848)], and anti-CD40 agonistic antibody (rWTC-MBTA). Intracranial GBM models (GL261, SB28 cells) are used to evaluate the vaccine efficacy. A substantial number of vaccinated mice exhibited complete regression of GBM tumors in a T-cell-dependent manner, with no significant toxicity. Long-term tumor-specific immune memory is confirmed upon tumor rechallenge. In the vaccine-draining lymph nodes of the SB28 model, rWTC-MBTA vaccination triggered a major rise in conventional dendritic cell type 1 (cDC1) 12 h post-treatment, followed by an increase in conventional dendritic cell type 2 (cDC2), monocyte-derived dendritic cell (moDC), and plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) on Day 5 and Day 13. Enhanced cytotoxicity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vaccinated mice is verified in co-culture with tumor cells. Analyses of immunosuppressive signals (T-cell exhaustion, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), M2 macrophages) in the GBM microenvironment suggest potential combinations with other immunotherapies for enhanced efficacy. In conclusion, the authors findings demonstrate that rWTC-MBTA induces potent and long-term adaptive immune responses against GBM.
- MeSH
- CD8-pozitivní T-lymfocyty MeSH
- dendritické buňky MeSH
- glioblastom * metabolismus MeSH
- imunita MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nádorové mikroprostředí MeSH
- vakcíny * metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
It is currently challenging to adequately model the growth and migration of glioblastoma using two-dimensional (2D) in vitro culture systems as they quickly lose the original, patient-specific identity and heterogeneity. However, with the advent of three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures and human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cerebral organoids (COs), studies demonstrate that the glioblastoma-CO (GLICO) coculture model helps to preserve the phenotype of the patient-specific tissue. Here, we aimed to set up such a model using mature COs and develop a pipeline for subsequent analysis of cocultured glioblastoma. Our data demonstrate that the growth and migration of the glioblastoma cell line within the mature COs are significantly increased in the presence of extracellular matrix proteins, shortening the time needed for glioblastoma to initiate migration. We also describe in detail the method for the visualization and quantification of these migrating cells within the GLICO model. Lastly, we show that this coculture model (and the human brain-like microenvironment) can significantly transform the gene expression profile of the established U87 glioblastoma cell line into proneural and classical glioblastoma cell types.
- MeSH
- buněčné kultury metody MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- glioblastom * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mozek MeSH
- nádorové mikroprostředí MeSH
- organoidy metabolismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Most therapeutic agents used for treating brain malignancies face hindered transport through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and poor tissue penetration. To overcome these problems, we developed peptide conjugates of conventional and experimental anticancer agents. SynB3 cell-penetrating peptide derivatives were applied that can cross the BBB. Tuftsin derivatives were used to target the neuropilin-1 transport system for selectivity and better tumor penetration. Moreover, SynB3-tuftsin tandem compounds were synthesized to combine the beneficial properties of these peptides. Most of the conjugates showed high and selective efficacy against glioblastoma cells. SynB3 and tandem derivatives demonstrated superior cellular internalization. The penetration profile of the conjugates was determined on a lipid monolayer and Transwell co-culture system with noncontact HUVEC-U87 monolayers as simple ex vivo and in vitro BBB models. Importantly, in 3D spheroids, daunomycin-peptide conjugates possessed a better tumor penetration ability than daunomycin. These conjugates are promising tools for the delivery systems with tunable features.
- MeSH
- antitumorózní látky chemie farmakokinetika farmakologie MeSH
- buněčné sféroidy účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- endoteliální buňky pupečníkové žíly (lidské) MeSH
- glioblastom farmakoterapie metabolismus MeSH
- hematoencefalická bariéra metabolismus MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádorové buňky kultivované MeSH
- nádory mozku farmakoterapie metabolismus MeSH
- neuropilin-1 metabolismus MeSH
- nosiče léků chemie farmakokinetika farmakologie MeSH
- oligopeptidy chemie farmakokinetika farmakologie MeSH
- penetrační peptidy chemie farmakokinetika farmakologie MeSH
- systémy cílené aplikace léků MeSH
- tuftsin analogy a deriváty farmakokinetika farmakologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The proline-specific serine protease fibroblast activation protein (FAP) can participate in the progression of malignant tumors and represents a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target. Recently, we demonstrated an increased expression of FAP in glioblastomas, particularly those of the mesenchymal subtype. Factors controlling FAP expression in glioblastomas are unknown, but evidence suggests that transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) can trigger mesenchymal changes in these tumors. Here, we investigated whether TGFbeta promotes FAP expression in transformed and stromal cells constituting the glioblastoma microenvironment. We found that both FAP and TGFbeta-1 are upregulated in glioblastomas and display a significant positive correlation. We detected TGFbeta-1 immunopositivity broadly in glioblastoma tissues, including tumor parenchyma regions in the immediate vicinity of FAP-immunopositive perivascular stromal cells. Wedemonstrate for the first time that TGFbeta-1 induces expression of FAP in non-stem glioma cells, pericytes, and glioblastoma-derived endothelial and FAP+ mesenchymal cells, but not in glioma stem-like cells. In glioma cells, this effect is mediated by the TGFbeta type I receptor and canonical Smad signaling and involves activation of FAP gene transcription. We further present evidence of FAP regulation by TGFbeta-1 secreted by glioma cells. Our results provide insight into the previously unrecognized regulation of FAP expression by autocrine and paracrine TGFbeta-1 signaling in a broad spectrum of cell types present in the glioblastoma microenvironment.
- MeSH
- endopeptidasy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- fluorescenční protilátková technika MeSH
- fosforylace MeSH
- glioblastom etiologie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- imunohistochemie MeSH
- kultivované buňky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- membránové proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádorové mikroprostředí účinky léků genetika MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u nádorů * účinky léků MeSH
- transformující růstový faktor beta1 metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The aim of this study was to assess two protocols for their capacities to simultaneously isolate RNA, mtDNA and ncDNA from mammalian cells. We compared the Invitrogen TRIzol-based method and Qiagen DNeasy columns, using the HepG2 cell line and human primary glioblastoma stem cells. Both methods allowed the isolation of all three types of nucleic acids and provided similar yields in mtDNA. However, the yield in ncDNA was more than tenfold higher on columns, as observed for both cell types. Conversely, the TRIzol method proved more reproducible and was the method of choice for isolating RNA from glioblastoma cells, as demonstrated for the housekeeping genes RPLP0 and RPS9.
- MeSH
- biochemie metody MeSH
- buněčné jádro metabolismus MeSH
- buňky Hep G2 MeSH
- glioblastom metabolismus patologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- messenger RNA izolace a purifikace MeSH
- mitochondriální DNA izolace a purifikace MeSH
- nádorové kmenové buňky metabolismus MeSH
- reagenční diagnostické soupravy MeSH
- RNA izolace a purifikace MeSH
- savci metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents approximately 60% of all brain tumors in adults. This malignancy shows a high biological and genetic heterogeneity associated with exceptional aggressiveness, leading to a poor survival of patients. This review provides a summary of the basic biology of GBM cells with emphasis on cell cycle and cytoskeletal apparatus of these cells, in particular microtubules. Their involvement in the important oncosuppressive process called mitotic catastrophe will next be discussed along with select examples of microtubule-targeting agents, which are currently explored in this respect such as benzimidazole carbamate compounds. Select microtubule-targeting agents, in particular benzimidazole carbamates, induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and mitotic catastrophe in tumor cells including GBM, resulting in phenotypically variable cell fates such as mitotic death or mitotic slippage with subsequent cell demise or permanent arrest leading to senescence. Their effect is coupled with low toxicity in normal cells and not developed chemoresistance. Given the lack of efficient cytostatics or modern molecular target-specific compounds in the treatment of GBM, drugs inducing mitotic catastrophe might offer a new, efficient alternative to the existing clinical management of this at present incurable malignancy.
- MeSH
- glioblastom * metabolismus mortalita terapie MeSH
- kontrolní body fáze G2 buněčného cyklu * MeSH
- kontrolní body M fáze buněčného cyklu * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mitóza * MeSH
- nádory mozku * metabolismus mortalita patologie terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
