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Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Glioma-infiltrating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Published on: November 28, 2015
Astrocyte-associated immunosuppressive programs in brain tumors: a STAT3-centered perspective.
Wei Sun1,2, Jia-Qi Zhang3, Wei-Lin Jin4
1Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Cancer Metastasis Reviews
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Astrocytes create immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments in brain cancers. Targeting these astrocyte-centered hubs (MISH) may reprogram them to enhance immunotherapy effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Astrocytes are key players in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) of brain tumors like glioblastoma.
- Tumor-associated astrocytes (TAAs) interact with tumor cells, myeloid cells, and vasculature to impair local immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the concept of modular immunosuppressive hubs (MISH) centered on astrocytes.
- To provide a framework for understanding astrocyte-driven immunosuppression in brain tumors, focusing on STAT3 signaling.
- To highlight therapeutic strategies targeting MISH for improved immunotherapy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic deconstruction of MISH composition, spatial regulation, and signaling.
- Analysis of cell-cell communication networks within the TME.
- Review of emerging pharmacological strategies targeting MISH signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- MISH represent organized suppressive programs within tumor niches, mediated by astrocyte interactions.
- STAT3-centered signaling is a critical component of these MISH.
- Targeting MISH can disrupt astrocyte-mediated immunosuppression.
Conclusions:
- Astrocytes actively shape the immunosuppressive TME through MISH.
- Dismantling MISH by targeting specific signaling pathways offers a novel therapeutic approach.
- Reprogramming TAAs via MISH targeting could overcome immunotherapy resistance in brain tumors.
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