Microglia-glioma cross-talk: a two way approach to new strategies against glioma.
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant and aggressive among primary brain tumors, characterized by very low life expectancy. In vivo, glioma and glioblastoma in particular contain large numbers of immune cells (myeloid cells) such as microglia and tumour-infiltrating macrophages (or glioma associated macrophages). These glioma-infiltrating myeloid cells comprise up to 30% of total tumor mass and have been suggested to play several roles in glioma progression including proliferation, survival, motility and immunosuppression. Although tumor microglia and macrophages can acquire proinflammatory (M1) phenotype being capable of releasing proinflammatory cytokines, phagocytosing and presenting antigens, their effector immune function in gliomas appears to be suppressed by the acquisition of an anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype. In the present work we review the microglia-glioma interactions to highlight the close relationship between the two cell types and the factors that can influence their properties (chemokines, cytokines, S100B protein). A future therapeutic possibility might be to simultaneously targeting, for example with nanomedicine, glioma cells and microglia to push the microglia towards an antitumor phenotype (M1) and/or prevent glioma cells from "conditioning" by microglia.
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Polo Unico Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, Piazzale Gambuli, 06132 Perugia, Italy,, cataldo.arcuri@unipg.it.
Cataldo
C
Arcuri
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Via Elce di sotto, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
Bernard
B
Fioretti
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Polo Unico Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, Piazzale Gambuli, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
Roberta
R
Bianchi
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Polo Unico Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, Piazzale Gambuli, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
Carmen
C
Mecca
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Claudia
C
Tubaro
Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via Fabretti 48, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Tommaso
T
Beccari
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Fabio
F
Franciolini
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Polo Unico Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, Piazzale Gambuli, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
Ileana
I
Giambanco
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Polo Unico Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, Piazzale Gambuli, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
Rosario
R
Donato
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002450:Cell Communication; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D017628:Microglia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D000072737:Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor