Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Bilateral Communication between Glioblastoma and Astrocytes

Lisa Nieland; Liza M Morsett; Marike L D Broekman; Xandra O Breakefield; Erik R Abels

doi:10.1016/j.tins.2020.10.014

Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Bilateral Communication between Glioblastoma and Astrocytes

Trends Neurosci. 2021 Mar;44(3):215-226. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.10.014. Epub 2020 Nov 21.

Authors

Lisa Nieland¹, Liza M Morsett², Marike L D Broekman³, Xandra O Breakefield¹, Erik R Abels⁴

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and NeuroDiscovery Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA.
² Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA.
³ Departments of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and NeuroDiscovery Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Neurosurgery, Haaglanden Medical Center, 2512 VA, The Hague, The Netherlands.
⁴ Departments of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and NeuroDiscovery Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02129, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: eabels@mgh.harvard.edu.

Abstract

Glioblastoma the most aggressive form of brain cancer, comprises a complex mixture of tumor cells and nonmalignant stromal cells, including neurons, astrocytes, microglia, infiltrating monocytes/macrophages, lymphocytes, and other cell types. All nonmalignant cells within and surrounding the tumor are affected by the presence of glioblastoma. Astrocytes use multiple modes of communication to interact with neighboring cells. Extracellular vesicle-directed intercellular communication has been found to be an important component of signaling between astrocytes and glioblastoma in tumor progression. In this review, we focus on recent findings on extracellular vesicle-mediated bilateral crosstalk, between glioblastoma cells and astrocytes, highlighting the protumor and antitumor roles of astrocytes in glioblastoma development.

Keywords: astrocytes; crosstalk; exosomes; glioma; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Astrocytes
Brain Neoplasms*
Cell Communication
Extracellular Vesicles*
Glioblastoma*
Humans

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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