title: Human glioma-initiating cells show a distinct immature phenotype resembling but not identical to NG2 glia.
abstract: Glioma-initiating cells (GICs) represent a potential important therapeutic target because they are likely to account for the frequent recurrence of malignant gliomas; however, their identity remains unsolved. Here, we characterized the cellular lineage fingerprint of GICs through a combination of electrophysiology, lineage marker expression, and differentiation assays of 5 human patient-derived primary GIC lines. Most GICs coexpressed nestin, NG2 proteoglycan, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Glioma-initiating cells could be partially differentiated into astrocytic but not oligodendroglial or neural lineages. We also demonstrate that GICs have a characteristic electrophysiologic profile distinct from that of well-characterized tumor bulk cells. Together, our results suggest that GICs represent a unique type of cells reminiscent of an immature phenotype that closely resembles but is not identical to NG2 glia with respect to marker expression and functional membrane properties.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, AG Oncophysiology, Göttingen.
authors.forename: Alonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barrantes-Freer
authors.forename: Ella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bielanska
authors.forename: Alf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: Lena Sünke
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Walter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Schulz-Schaeffer
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stadelmann
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brück
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005910:Glioma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured