PUBLICATION

Wasl is crucial to maintain microglial core activities during glioblastoma initiation stages

Authors
Mazzolini, J., Le Clerc, S., Morisse, G., Coulonges, C., Zagury, J.F., Sieger, D.
ID
ZDB-PUB-220224-4
Date
2022
Source
Glia   70(6): 1027-1051 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Sieger, Dirk
Keywords
RNA sequencing, cytoskeleton, glioblastoma, microglia, morphology, phagocytosis, wasl
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Glioblastoma*/metabolism
  • Glioma*/pathology
  • Microglia/metabolism
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
35194846 Full text @ Glia
Abstract
Microglia actively promotes the growth of high-grade gliomas. Within the glioma microenvironment an amoeboid microglial morphology has been observed, however the underlying causes and the related impact on microglia functions and their tumor promoting activities is unclear. Using the advantages of the larval zebrafish model, we identified the underlying mechanism and show that microglial morphology and functions are already impaired during glioma initiation stages. The presence of pre-neoplastic HRasV12 expressing cells induces an amoeboid morphology of microglia, increases microglial numbers and decreases their motility and phagocytic activity. RNA sequencing analysis revealed lower expression levels of the actin nucleation promoting factor wasla in microglia. Importantly, a microglia specific rescue of wasla expression restores microglial morphology and functions. This results in increased phagocytosis of pre-neoplastic cells and slows down tumor progression. In conclusion, we identified a mechanism that de-activates core microglial functions within the emerging glioma microenvironment. Restoration of this mechanism might provide a way to impair glioma growth.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping