Invasion of white matter tracts by glioma stem cells is regulated by a NOTCH1-SOX2 positive-feedback loop

Nat Neurosci. 2019 Jan;22(1):91-105. doi: 10.1038/s41593-018-0285-z. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Abstract

Early invasive growth along specific anatomical structures, especially the white matter tract, is regarded as one of the main causes of poor therapeutic outcome of people with gliomas. We show that some glioma stem cells (GSCs) are preferentially located along white matter tracts, which exhibit a demyelinated phenotype, at the invasive frontier of glioma tissues. These GSCs are CD133+Notch1+, whereas the nerve fibers express the Notch ligand Jagged1. The Notch-induced transcription factor Sox9 promotes the transcription of SOX2 and the methylation level of the NOTCH1 promoter is attenuated by the upregulation of SOX2 to reinforce NOTCH1 expression in GSCs. This positive-feedback loop in a cohort of glioma subjects is correlated with a poor prognosis. Inhibition of Notch signaling attenuates the white-matter-tract tropism of GSCs. These findings provide evidence indicating that the NOTCH1-SOX2 positive-feedback loop controls GSC invasion along white matter tracts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging
  • Feedback, Physiological / physiology*
  • Glioma / diagnostic imaging
  • Glioma / metabolism*
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Jagged-1 Protein / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism*
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • White Matter / metabolism*
  • White Matter / pathology

Substances

  • Jagged-1 Protein
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors