Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion
Published on: October 20, 2016
Integrated transcriptomic analysis reveals mitochondrial dysregulation and macrophage heterogeneity associated with
Binfeng Tu1, Yulong Ji2, Zilong Tan3
1The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, PR China; Jiangxi Key Laboratory of oncology(2024SSY06041), Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, PR China.
Background:
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with therapeutic resistance and poor prognosis. Mitochondrial dysfunction has emerged as a critical driver of tumor progression and immune modulation, yet mitochondrial gene alterations and their cellular specificity in GBM remain unclear.
Methods:
Transcriptomic datasets (TCGA-GBM, GSE66354) were analyzed to identify differentially expressed mitochondria-associated genes using MitoCarta3.0. Prognostic mitochondrial DEGs (MitoDEGs) were determined by Cox regression, and a nomogram was constructed for survival prediction. Single-cell RNA sequencing was applied to explore mitochondrial gene expression in cellular populations, particularly macrophages. Functional enrichment and pseudotime analyses were conducted to define macrophage subpopulations, while in vitro assays validated the role of MTHFD2 in glioblastoma cell behavior, macrophage migration and the expression of IL-6 and CCL2.
Results:
MTHFD2 was identified as a diagnosis mitochondrial hub gene strongly correlated with GBM diagnosis. Single-cell analysis revealed elevated mitochondrial activity and MTHFD2 expression in tumor-associated macrophages. A distinct MTHFD2-high macrophage subpopulation displayed immune-activated and metabolically reprogrammed pathways, representing a terminally differentiated state linked to tumor progression. Functional assays showed that silencing MTHFD2 suppressed glioblastoma cell proliferation, invasion, colony formation, and reduced macrophage migration and the expression of IL-6 and CCL2.
Conclusion:
Mitochondrial dysfunction mediated by MTHFD2 in macrophages plays a key role in GBM progression and immune heterogeneity. MTHFD2 represents a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for modulating GBM immune infiltration.
More Related Videos
07:42An In vitro Model to Study Heterogeneity of Human Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization
Published on: June 12, 2013
09:15Displacement Analysis of Myocardial Mechanical Deformation DIAMOND Reveals Segmental Heterogeneity of Cardiac Function in Embryonic Zebrafish
Published on: February 6, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Export of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genes
Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
Comparing Mitochondrial, Chloroplast, and Prokaryotic Genomes
Integration by Parts: Indefinite Integrals
Integration by Parts: Definite Integrals
The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane