Insulin signaling mediates neurodegeneration in glioma

Life Sci Alliance. 2021 Feb 1;4(3):e202000693. doi: 10.26508/lsa.202000693. Print 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Cell to cell communication facilitates tissue development and physiology. Under pathological conditions, brain tumors disrupt glia-neuron communication signals that in consequence, promote tumor expansion at the expense of surrounding healthy tissue. The glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and frequent primary brain tumors. This type of glioma expands and infiltrates into the brain, causing neuronal degeneration and neurological decay, among other symptoms. Here, we describe in a Drosophila model how glioblastoma cells produce ImpL2, an antagonist of the insulin pathway, which targets neighboring neurons and causes mitochondrial disruption as well as synapse loss, both early symptoms of neurodegeneration. Furthermore, glioblastoma progression requires insulin pathway attenuation in neurons. Restoration of neuronal insulin activity is sufficient to rescue synapse loss and to delay the premature death caused by glioma. Therefore, signals from glioblastoma to neuron emerge as a potential field of study to prevent neurodegeneration and to develop anti-tumoral strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins / physiology
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism*
  • Glioblastoma / physiopathology
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / physiopathology
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin / physiology
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / physiopathology
  • Neuroglia / metabolism
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • ImpL2 protein, Drosophila
  • Insulin
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins