title: Bone morphogenetic protein signaling promotes tumorigenesis in a murine model of high-grade glioma.
abstract: Improved therapies for high-grade glioma (HGG) are urgently needed as the median survival for grade IV gliomas is only 15 months. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling plays critical and complex roles in many types of cancer, including glioma, with most of the recently published work focusing on BMP-mediated regulation of glioma stem cells (GSCs). We hypothesized that BMP signaling may be an important modulator of tumorigenic properties in glioma cells outside of the GSC compartment.
  
  
  
  We used a human HGG tissue microarray and performed immunohistochemistry for phospho-Smads1,5,8. To examine the role of BMP signaling in tumorigenic astrocytes, transgenic mice were used to delete the BMP type IA receptor (Bmpr1a) and generate astrocytes transformed with oncogenic Ras and homozygous deletion of p53. The cells were transplanted orthotopically into immunocompetent adult host mice.
  
  
  
  First we established that BMP signaling is active within the vast majority of HGG tumor cells. Mice implanted with BMPR1a-knockout transformed astrocytes showed an increase in median survival compared with mice that received BMPR1a-intact transformed astrocytes (52.5 vs 16 days). In vitro analysis showed that deletion of BMPR1a in oncogenic astrocytes resulted in decreased proliferation, decreased invasion, decreased migration, and increased expression of stemness markers. In addition, inhibition of BMP signaling in murine cells and astrocytoma cells with a small molecule BMP receptor kinase inhibitor resulted in similar tumor suppressive effects in vitro.
  
  
  
  BMP inhibition may represent a viable therapeutic approach in adult HGG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (L.D.H., T.W.A.); Department of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.O., H.L.M.); Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (A.M.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (J.W., L.C.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.H.); Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C.C.H.); Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Research Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.).
authors.forename: Laura D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hover
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (L.D.H., T.W.A.); Department of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.O., H.L.M.); Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (A.M.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (J.W., L.C.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.H.); Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C.C.H.); Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Research Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.).
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (L.D.H., T.W.A.); Department of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.O., H.L.M.); Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (A.M.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (J.W., L.C.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.H.); Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C.C.H.); Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Research Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.).
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Munden
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (L.D.H., T.W.A.); Department of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.O., H.L.M.); Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (A.M.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (J.W., L.C.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.H.); Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C.C.H.); Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Research Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.).
authors.forename: Jialiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (L.D.H., T.W.A.); Department of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.O., H.L.M.); Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (A.M.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (J.W., L.C.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.H.); Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C.C.H.); Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Research Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.).
authors.forename: Lola B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Chambless
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (L.D.H., T.W.A.); Department of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.O., H.L.M.); Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (A.M.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (J.W., L.C.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.H.); Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C.C.H.); Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Research Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.).
authors.forename: Corey R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (L.D.H., T.W.A.); Department of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.O., H.L.M.); Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (A.M.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (J.W., L.C.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.H.); Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C.C.H.); Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Research Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.).
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (L.D.H., T.W.A.); Department of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.O., H.L.M.); Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (A.M.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (J.W., L.C.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.H.); Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C.C.H.); Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Research Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.).
authors.forename: Harold L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (L.D.H., T.W.A.); Department of Cancer Biology and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (P.O., H.L.M.); Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (A.M.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (J.W., L.C.); Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.H.); Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (C.C.H.); Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.); Research Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee (C.C.H.).
authors.forename: Ty W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Abel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C498212:Bmpr1a protein, mouse; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I
keywords: BMP; BMPR1a; DMH1; genetically engineered mice; high-grade glioma