Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
07:48
Coculture System with an Organotypic Brain Slice and 3D Spheroid of Carcinoma Cells
Published on: October 9, 2013
Astrocytes and Microglia Regulate Opioid Receptor-Driven Cancer Brain Metastasis and Neural Injury: Remodeling the
Di Cui1, Xiang Wang1, Xiaoling Shang1
1College of Basic Medical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People's Republic of China.
Journal of Inflammation Research
|June 3, 2026
Summary
Brain metastasis involves tumor cells interacting with the brain microenvironment. Opioid receptors (ORs) in glial cells reprogram their function, promoting tumor colonization and neuronal injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Brain metastasis is a frequent complication of solid tumors, leading to poor prognosis.
- Tumor cell survival in the central nervous system (CNS) depends on the brain microenvironment, not just tumor cell invasiveness.
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) face a 'colonization bottleneck' at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and within the CNS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the brain microenvironment in brain metastasis.
- To explore the functional reprogramming of neuroglial cells in response to tumor cells.
- To identify key signaling nodes, such as opioid receptors (ORs), that regulate neuroglial cell function during metastasis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the interactions between tumor cells and the brain microenvironment.
- Investigation of neuroglial cell (astrocyte and microglia) functional reprogramming.
- Examination of the role of opioid receptor signaling in modulating neuroglial cell responses.
Main Results:
- Neuroglial cells shift from a restrictive to a tumor-supportive state, characterized by inflammation, immunosuppression, and altered metabolic coupling.
- This reprogramming reshapes the brain metastatic niche and contributes to neuronal injury.
- Opioid receptor (OR) signaling in astrocytes and microglia regulates these functional shifts, indirectly promoting brain metastasis and neuronal damage.
Conclusions:
- Brain metastasis is a complex process driven by tumor cell-glia interactions within the brain microenvironment.
- Opioid receptor signaling acts as a critical node, resetting neuroglial cell responses to amplify metastatic colonization and neuronal injury.
- Understanding glia-mediated selection mechanisms is crucial for deciphering the biology of brain metastasis.
Related Concept Videos
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
01:22Opioid Receptors: Overview
Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin or DPDPE for...