title: The Role of Neurotrophin Signaling in Gliomagenesis: A Focus on the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor (p75NTR/CD271).
abstract: The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR, a.k.a. CD271), a transmembrane glycoprotein and a member of the tumor necrosis family (TNF) of receptors, was originally identified as a nerve growth factor receptor in the mid-1980s. While p75NTRis recognized to have important roles during neural development, its presence in both neural and nonneural tissues clearly supports the potential to mediate a broad range of functions depending on cellular context. Using an unbiased in vivo selection paradigm for genes underlying the invasive behavior of glioma, a critical characteristic that contributes to poor clinical outcome for glioma patients, we identified p75NTRas a central regulator of glioma invasion. Herein we review the expanding role that p75NTRplays in glioma progression with an emphasis on how p75NTRmay contribute to the treatment refractory nature of glioma. Based on the observation that p75NTRis expressed and functional in two critical glioma disease reservoirs, namely, the highly infiltrative cells that evade surgical resection, and the radiation- and chemotherapy-resistant brain tumor-initiating cells (also referred to as brain tumor stem cells), we propose that p75NTRand its myriad of downstream signaling effectors represent rationale therapeutic targets for this devastating disease. Lastly, we provide the provocative hypothesis that, in addition to the well-documented cell autonomous signaling functions, the neurotrophins, and their respective receptors, contribute in a cell nonautonomous manner to drive the complex cellular and molecular composition of the brain tumor microenvironment, an environment that fuels tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alshehri
authors.affiliation: Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.affiliation: Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: senger@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Senger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C484065:NGFR protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: Brain tumor; CD271; Cancer stem cells; Glioblastoma; Glioma invasion; Nerve growth factor; Neurotrophin; p75(NTR)