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Updated: Mar 18, 2026
Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections
Published on: July 31, 2017
Microglial Contribution to Glioma Progression: an Immunohistochemical Study in Eastern India
Krishnendu Ghosh1, Samarendranath Ghosh, Uttara Chatterjee
1Immunobiology Lab, Department of Zoology, Panihati Mahavidyalaya, Barasat Road, Sodepur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Abstract:
Human glioma, arising from glial cells of the central nervous system, accounts for almost 30%of all brain tumours , neoplasms with a poor prognosis and high mortality rates worldwide. In the present study we assessed tissue architectural modifications associated with macrophage lineage cells, controversial major immune effector cells within the brain, in human glioma tissue samples from eastern India. Ethically cleared post-operative human glioma samples from our collaborative neurosurgery unit with respective CT/MRI and patient history were collected from the Nodal Centre of Neurosciences in Kolkata, over 9 months. Along with conventional histopathology, samples were subjected to silver-gold staining and fluorescence tagged immunophenotyping for the detection of electron dense brain macrophage/microglia cells in glioma tissue, followed by immune-phenotyping of cells. With higher grades, CD11b+/Iba-1+ macrophage/microglia architecture with de-structured boundaries of glioma lesions indicated malfunction and invasive effector state. Present study documented a contribution of microglia to glioma progression in Eastern India.
Insights
This study investigated brain immune cells in human glioma from Eastern India. Microglia with specific markers showed altered architecture in higher-grade gliomas, suggesting a role in tumor progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Human glioma represents a significant portion of brain tumors with poor outcomes.
- Macrophage lineage cells, including microglia, are key immune players in the central nervous system.
- Their role in glioma progression remains an area of active investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze tissue architectural changes of macrophage lineage cells in human glioma samples.
- To investigate the association between microglia morphology and glioma grade.
- To understand the contribution of microglia to glioma progression in Eastern India.
Main Methods:
- Collection and ethical approval of post-operative human glioma samples.
- Conventional histopathology, silver-gold staining, and immunophenotyping (CD11b+/Iba-1+).
- Assessment of macrophage/microglia cellular architecture and glioma lesion boundaries.
Main Results:
- Observed modifications in CD11b+/Iba-1+ macrophage/microglia architecture within glioma tissues.
- Higher-grade gliomas exhibited de-structured lesion boundaries correlating with altered microglia.
- Evidence suggests a role for microglia in the invasive progression of gliomas.
Conclusions:
- Microglia exhibit distinct architectural changes in human glioma.
- These changes, particularly in higher grades, are linked to glioma invasiveness.
- The study highlights microglia's contribution to glioma progression in the studied population.
