Microglia/macrophages promote glioma progression
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion
Published on: October 20, 2016
Haiyan Zhai1, Frank L Heppner, Stella E Tsirka
1Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-8651, USA.
Abstract:
Gliomas are highly aggressive and accompanied by numerous microglia/macrophages (MG/MP) in and about the tumor. Little is known about what MG/MP do in this setting, or whether modulating MG/MP activation might affect glioma progression. Here, we used a glioma-microglia in culture system to establish the effects the tumor and microglia have on each other. We assessed glioma progression in vivo after MG/MP ablation or in the setting of exaggerated MG/MP activation. We show that glioma cells activate microglia but inhibit their phagocytic activities. Local ablation of MG/MP in vivo decreased tumor size and improved survival curves. Conversely, pharmacological activation of MG/MP increased glioma size through stimulating tumor proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. In agreement with recent reports, expression of the chemokine CCL21 is enhanced after MG/MP activation and correlates with tumor growth. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that inhibition of MG/MP activation may constitute a new and effective contribution towards suppressing glioma proliferation.
Insights
Inhibition of microglia/macrophages (MG/MP) activation may suppress glioma growth. Glioma cells activate MG/MP but reduce their phagocytosis, leading to increased tumor size and decreased survival.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Gliomas are aggressive brain tumors associated with significant microglia/macrophage (MG/MP) infiltration.
- The precise role of MG/MP in glioma progression and the impact of modulating their activation remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bidirectional interactions between glioma cells and MG/MP.
- To determine the effect of MG/MP modulation on glioma progression in vitro and in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Established a co-culture system of glioma and microglia.
- Assessed glioma progression in vivo following MG/MP ablation or activation.
- Analyzed the expression of chemokine CCL21 and its correlation with tumor growth.
Main Results:
- Glioma cells were found to activate MG/MP while simultaneously inhibiting their phagocytic capacity.
- In vivo MG/MP ablation led to reduced tumor size and improved survival.
- Pharmacological activation of MG/MP promoted glioma growth by increasing proliferation and decreasing apoptosis.
- CCL21 expression correlated positively with tumor growth following MG/MP activation.
Conclusions:
- MG/MP play a critical role in promoting glioma progression.
- Inhibiting MG/MP activation presents a potential therapeutic strategy for suppressing glioma proliferation and enhancing patient survival.
