RNA sequence analysis reveals ITGAL/CD11A as a stromal regulator of murine low-grade glioma growth

Tumor cells escape immunosurveillance by hampering LFA-1

During tumor immunosurveillance, leukocytes play a crucial role in the cellular defense system, working collaboratively with other immune components to recognize and eliminate aberrant cells. Integral to this process is the integrin Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen 1 (LFA-1). LFA-1 facilitates adhesion during leukocyte migration and helps establish stable cell-to-cell contacts between leukocytes and their targets. Additionally, as a receptor, LFA-1 signaling activates leukocytes, promoting their differentiation and effector functions against cancer. However, tumors can develop mechanisms to evade immune clearance by disrupting LFA-1 functions or hijacking its pathways. In this review, we first detail how leukocytes utilize LFA-1 during immunosurveillance and then explore how tumors counteract this process in the tumor microenvironment (TME) by either altering LFA-1 functions or exploiting it to drive tumorigenesis. Moreover, we discuss therapeutic strategies targeting LFA-1, including inhibitors tested in laboratory studies and animal models, highlighting their potential as anticancer interventions and the need for further research to evaluate their clinical utility.

Magnesium-related gene ITGAL: a key immunotherapy predictor and prognostic biomarker in pan-cancer

Background

Integrin subunit alpha L (ITGAL) is crucial for activating CD8+ T cells through magnesium-mediated immune synapse formation and specific cytotoxicity. ITGAL might exert an important function in the growth and transformation of cancer.

Methods

Our study comprehensively analyzed ITGAL expression across various cancers, validated by Immunochemistry (IHC) in the laboratory. ITGAL showed prognostic significance in pan-cancer patients, correlated with clinical features, and associated with specific signaling pathways. We also observed a relationship between ITGAL and immune cell infiltration. In HNSCC, ITGAL demonstrated prognostic value and potential implications for immunotherapy response and novel drug targets.

Results

ITGAL expression linked to tumor prognosis across 27 cancers. Elevated ITGAL correlated with good prognosis in CESC, LUAD, SARC, HNSCC, and SKCM. ITGAL involved in immune regulation pathways and showed positive correlation with immune cell infiltration. ITGAL associated with CD8+ T cell infiltration. And high ITGAL expression in CD8+ T cells and NK cells. In HNSCC, ITGAL linked to favorable prognosis and sensitivity to immunotherapy. Predicted potential drugs for HNSCC.

Conclusion

ITGAL is remarkably associated with CD8+T cells and crucial in the tumor immune microenvironment of pan-cancer. Furthermore, our findings may provide a targeted anti-tumor strategy for ITGAL by influencing the tumor immune microenvironment.

The microglial innate immune receptor TREM2 participates in fear memory formation through excessive prelimbic cortical synaptic pruning

Introduction

Fear memory formation has been implicated in fear- and stress-related psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias. Synapse deficiency and microglial activation are common among patients with PTSD, and induced in animal models of fear conditioning. Increasing studies now focus on explaining the specific mechanisms between microglia and synapse deficiency. Though newly-identified microglia regulator triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) plays a role in microglial phagocytic activity, its role in fear-formation remains unknown.

Methods

We successfully constructed a fear- formation model by foot-shock. Four days after foot-shock, microglial capacity of synaptic pruning was investigated via western blotting, immunofluorescence and Golgi-Cox staining. Prelimbic chemical deletion or microglia inhibition was performed to detect the role of microglia in synaptic loss and neuron activity. Finally, Trem2 knockout mice or wild-type mice with Trem2 siRNA injection were exposed to foot-shock to identify the involvement of TREM2 in fear memory formation.

Results

The results herein indicate that the foot-shock protocol in male mice resulted in a fear formation model. Mechanistically, fear conditioning enhanced the microglial capacity for engulfing synapse materials, and led to glutamatergic neuron activation in the prelimbic cortex. Prelimbic chemical deletion or microglia inhibition improved fear memory formation. Further investigation demonstrated that TREM2 regulates microglial phagocytosis, enhancing synaptic pruning. Trem2 knockout mice showed remarkable reductions in prelimbic synaptic pruning and reduced neuron activation, with decreased fear memory formation.

Discussion

Our cumulative results suggest that prelimbic TREM2-mediated excessive microglial synaptic pruning is involved in the fear memory formation process, leading to development of abnormal stress-related behavior.

Neuroinflammation as a cause of differential Müller cell regenerative responses to retinal injury

Unlike mammals, some nonmammalian species recruit Müller glia for retinal regeneration after injury. Identifying the underlying mechanisms may help to foresee regenerative medicine strategies. Using a Xenopus model of retinitis pigmentosa, we found that Müller cells actively proliferate upon photoreceptor degeneration in old tadpoles but not in younger ones. Differences in the inflammatory microenvironment emerged as an explanation for such stage dependency. Functional analyses revealed that enhancing neuroinflammation is sufficient to trigger Müller cell proliferation, not only in young tadpoles but also in mice. In addition, we showed that microglia are absolutely required for the response of mouse Müller cells to mitogenic factors while negatively affecting their neurogenic potential. However, both cell cycle reentry and neurogenic gene expression are allowed when applying sequential pro- and anti-inflammatory treatments. This reveals that inflammation benefits Müller glia proliferation in both regenerative and nonregenerative vertebrates and highlights the importance of sequential inflammatory modulation to create a regenerative permissive microenvironment.

Intron retention as an excellent marker for diagnosing depression and for discovering new potential pathways for drug intervention

Background

Peripheral inflammation is often associated with depressive disorders, and immunological biomarkers of depression remain a focus of investigation.

Methods

We performed RNA-seq analysis of RNA transcripts of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a case-control study including subjects with self-reported depression in the pre-symptomatic state of major depressive disorder and analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the frequency of intron retention (IR) using rMATS.

Results

Among the statistically significant DEGs identified, the 651 upregulated DEGs were particularly enriched in the term "bacterial infection and phagocytosis", whereas the 820 downregulated DEGs were enriched in the terms "antigen presentation" and "T-cell proliferation and maturation". We also analyzed 158 genes for which the IR was increased (IncIR) and 211 genes for which the IR was decreased (DecIR) in the depressed subjects. Although the Gene Ontology terms associated with IncIR and DecIR were very similar to those of the up- and downregulated genes, respectively, IR genes appeared to be particularly enriched in genes with sensor functions, with a preponderance of the term "ciliary assembly and function". The observation that IR genes specifically interact with innate immunity genes suggests that immune-related genes, as well as cilia-related genes, may be excellent markers of depression. Re-analysis of previously published RNA-seq data from patients with MDD showed that common IR genes, particularly our predicted immune- and cilia-related genes, are commonly detected in populations with different levels of depression, providing validity for using IR to detect depression.

Conclusion

Depression was found to be associated with activation of the innate immune response and relative inactivation of T-cell signaling. The DEGs we identified reflect physiological demands that are controlled at the transcriptional level, whereas the IR results reflect a more direct mechanism for monitoring protein homeostasis. Accordingly, an alteration in IR, namely IncIR or DecIR, is a stress response, and intron-retained transcripts are sensors of the physiological state of the cytoplasm. The results demonstrate the potential of relative IR as a biomarker for the immunological stratification of depressed patients and the utility of IR for the discovery of novel pathways involved in recovery from depression.

ITGAL expression in non-small-cell lung cancer tissue and its association with immune infiltrates

Background

Integrin subunit alpha L (ITGAL) encodes an integrin component of LFA-1 and is a membrane receptor molecule widely expressed on leukocytes. It plays a key role in the interaction between white blood cells and other cells. There was a significant correlation between the expression of ITGAL and the tumor microenvironment in a number of cancers. However, experimental studies targeting ITGAL and immune cell infiltration in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy are lacking.

Methods

Data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) databases to explore the relationship between ITGAL expression and prognosis, as well as the immune cell infiltration in patients with NSCLC. In addition, immunohistochemical staining for ITGAL and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) staining for ITGAL, CD20, CD68, CD4, and CD8 from tissue microarrays containing 118 tumor tissues and paired paracancerous tissues from patients with NSCLC were performed. The correlation between ITGAL expression and clinical factors, as well as the immunophenotypes of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, were also analyzed.

Results

In NSCLC tumor tissues, ITGAL was downregulated compared with matched paracancerous tissues, and low ITGAL expression was associated with a poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry results for tissue microarray showed that ITGAL expression was mainly elevated in tumor stroma and areas with highly infiltrated immune cells. ITGAL expression was higher in paracancerous tissues than tumor tissues. Furthermore, mIF results indicated that the patients with ITGAL-high expression tend had significantly higher CD8+ T cells, CD68+ macrophages, CD4+ T cells, and CD20+ B cells infiltration in their tumor tissues. Immunophenotypes were classified into three categories, that is deserted, excluded, and inflamed types, according to each kind of immune cell distribution in or around the cancer cell nest. MIF results showed that ITGAL expression level was correlated with the immunophenotypes. Furthermore, ITGAL expression was associated with the prognosis of NSCLC in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and the patients with high ITGAL expression tends have better outcomes.

Conclusions

ITGAL may be used as a biomarker for assessing the immune microenvironment in patients with NSCLC.

Integrated analysis highlights the significance role of ITGAL in lung adenocarcinoma

Integrin alpha L (ITGAL), a member of the integrin family, is associated with carcinogenesis and immune regulation. However, the biological functions of ITGAL in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain poorly understood. In this study, we utilized the TCGA dataset to analyse ITGAL mRNA expression in LUAD and examined its correlation with clinical prognosis. Three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel culture, 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) ELISA, wound-healing migration and cell adherence assays were used to demonstrate the potential role of ITGAL in LUAD progression. Additionally, we analysed single-cell sequencing data of LUAD to determine the expression and biological function of ITGAL. Our research revealed that the expression of ITGAL in LUAD samples is an independent predictor of prognosis. Patients with high expression of ITGAL had significantly better overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) compared to the low-expression group. Meanwhile, the expression of ITGAL suppressed malignant progression in LUAD cells. Functional enrichment analyses showed that ITGAL was significantly correlated with cell immune response and immune checkpoint, consistent with the analysis of single-cell sequencing in paired samples of normal and tumour. Furthermore, we confirmed that ITGAL expression affect the tumour microenvironment (TME) through regulation of the expression of cytokines in NK cells of LUAD. In summary, ITGAL is a prognostic biomarker for LUAD patients, and it repressed malignant progression in LUAD cells. Moreover, ITGAL expression also enhanced the effect of immunotherapy and may be an important target in LUAD therapy.

HMGA2 promotes cancer metastasis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex physiological process that transforms polarized epithelial cells into moving mesenchymal cells. Dysfunction of EMT promotes the invasion and metastasis of cancer. The architectural transcription factor high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is highly overexpressed in various types of cancer (e.g., colorectal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, uterine leiomyomas) and significantly correlated with poor survival rates. Evidence indicated that HMGA2 overexpression markedly decreased the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin (CDH1) and increased that of vimentin (VIM), Snail, N-cadherin (CDH2), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) by targeting the transforming growth factor beta/SMAD (TGFβ/SMAD), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and WNT/beta-catenin (WNT/β-catenin) signaling pathways. Furthermore, a new class of non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, circular RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs) plays an essential role in the process of HMGA2-induced metastasis and invasion of cancer by accelerating the EMT process. In this review, we discuss alterations in the expression of HMGA2 in various types of cancer. Furthermore, we highlight the role of HMGA2-induced EMT in promoting tumor growth, migration, and invasion. More importantly, we discuss extensively the mechanism through which HMGA2 regulates the EMT process and invasion in most cancers, including signaling pathways and the interacting RNA signaling axis. Thus, the elucidation of molecular mechanisms that underlie the effects of HMGA2 on cancer invasion and patient survival by mediating EMT may offer new therapeutic methods for preventing cancer progression.

A common single nucleotide variant in the cytokine receptor-like factor-3 (CRLF3) gene causes neuronal deficits in human and mouse cells

Single nucleotide variants in the general population are common genomic alterations, where the majority are presumed to be silent polymorphisms without known clinical significance. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) cerebral organoid modeling of the 1.4 megabase Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) deletion syndrome, we previously discovered that the cytokine receptor-like factor-3 (CRLF3) gene, which is co-deleted with the NF1 gene, functions as a major regulator of neuronal maturation. Moreover, children with NF1 and the CRLF3L389P variant have greater autism burden, suggesting that this gene might be important for neurologic function. To explore the functional consequences of this variant, we generated CRLF3L389P-mutant hiPSC lines and Crlf3L389P-mutant genetically engineered mice. While this variant does not impair protein expression, brain structure, or mouse behavior, CRLF3L389P-mutant human cerebral organoids and mouse brains exhibit impaired neuronal maturation and dendrite formation. In addition, Crlf3L389P-mutant mouse neurons have reduced dendrite lengths and branching, without any axonal deficits. Moreover, Crlf3L389P-mutant mouse hippocampal neurons have decreased firing rates and synaptic current amplitudes relative to wild type controls. Taken together, these findings establish the CRLF3L389P variant as functionally deleterious and suggest that it may be a neurodevelopmental disease modifier.

Microglial Transcriptional Signatures in the Central Nervous System: Toward A Future of Unraveling Their Function in Health and Disease

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), are primarily derived from the embryonic yolk sac and make their way to the CNS during early development. They play key physiological and immunological roles across the life span, throughout health, injury, and disease. Recent transcriptomic studies have identified gene transcript signatures expressed by microglia that may provide the foundation for unprecedented insights into their functions. Microglial gene expression signatures can help distinguish them from macrophage cell types to a reasonable degree of certainty, depending on the context. Microglial expression patterns further suggest a heterogeneous population comprised of many states that vary according to the spatiotemporal context. Microglial diversity is most pronounced during development, when extensive CNS remodeling takes place, and following disease or injury. A next step of importance for the field will be to identify the functional roles performed by these various microglial states, with the perspective of targeting them therapeutically.

TREM2 promotes glioma progression and angiogenesis mediated by microglia/brain macrophages

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 2 (TREM2), a myeloid cell-specific signaling molecule, controls essential functions of microglia and impacts on the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. TREM2 is also highly expressed in tumor-associated macrophages in different types of cancer. Here, we studied whether TREM2 influences glioma progression. We found a gender-dependent effect of glioma growth in wild-type (WT) animals injected with GL261-EGFP glioma cells. Most importantly, TREM2 promotes glioma progression in male but not female animals. The accumulation of glioma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAMs) and CD31+ blood vessel density is reduced in male TREM2-deficient mice. A transcriptomic analysis of glioma tissue revealed that TREM2 deficiency suppresses immune-related genes. In an organotypic slice model devoid of functional vascularization and immune components from periphery, the tumor size was not affected by TREM2-deficiency. In human resection samples from glioblastoma, TREM2 is upregulated in GAMs. Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases, the TREM2 expression levels were negatively correlated with survival. Thus, the TREM2-dependent crosstalk between GAMs and the vasculature formation promotes glioma growth.

Microglia and Astrocytes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Disease-Associated States, Pathological Roles, and Therapeutic Potential

Microglial and astrocytic reactivity is a prominent feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Microglia and astrocytes have been increasingly appreciated to play pivotal roles in disease pathogenesis. These cells can adopt distinct states characterized by a specific molecular profile or function depending on the different contexts of development, health, aging, and disease. Accumulating evidence from ALS rodent and cell models has demonstrated neuroprotective and neurotoxic functions from microglia and astrocytes. In this review, we focused on the recent advancements of knowledge in microglial and astrocytic states and nomenclature, the landmark discoveries demonstrating a clear contribution of microglia and astrocytes to ALS pathogenesis, and novel therapeutic candidates leveraging these cells that are currently undergoing clinical trials.

Identification of monocyte-associated pathways participated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension based on omics-data

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is one kind of chronic and uncurable diseases that can cause heart failure. Immune microenvironment plays a significant role in PAH. The aim of this study was to assess the role of immune cell infiltration in the pathogenesis of PAH. Differentially expressed genes based on microarray data were enriched in several immune-related pathways. To evaluate the immune cell infiltration, based on the microarray data sets in the GEO database, we used both ssGSEA and the CIBERSORT algorithm. Additionally, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data was used to further explicit the specific role and intercellular communications. Then receiver operating characteristic curves and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were used to discover and test the potential diagnostic biomarkers for PAH. Both the immune cell infiltration analyses based on the microarray data sets and the cell proportion in scRNA-seq data exhibited a significant downregulation in the infiltration of monocytes in PAH. Then, the intercellular communications showed that the interaction weighs of most immune cells, including monocytes changed between the control and PAH groups, and the ITGAL-ITGB2 and ICAM signaling pathways played critical roles in this process. In addition, ITGAM and ICAM2 displayed good diagnosis values in PAH. This study implicated that the change of monocyte was one of the key immunologic features of PAH. Monocyte-associated ICAM-1 and ITGAL-ITGB2 signaling pathways might be involved in the pathogenesis of PAH.

The Present and Future of Optic Pathway Glioma Therapy

Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) encompass two distinct categories: benign pediatric gliomas, which are characterized by favorable prognosis, and malignant adult gliomas, which are aggressive cancers associated with a poor outcome. Our review aims to explore the established standards of care for both types of tumors, highlight the emerging therapeutic strategies for OPG treatment, and propose potential alternative therapies that, while originally studied in a broader glioma context, may hold promise for OPGs pending further investigation. These potential therapies encompass immunotherapy approaches, molecular-targeted therapy, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, nanotechnologies, magnetic hyperthermia therapy, cyberKnife, cannabinoids, and the ketogenic diet. Restoring visual function is a significant challenge in cases where optic nerve damage has occurred due to the tumor or its therapeutic interventions. Numerous approaches, particularly those involving stem cells, are currently being investigated as potential facilitators of visual recovery in these patients.

Towards an Understanding of Microglia and Border-Associated Macrophages

The central nervous system (CNS) plays a crucial role in regulating bodily functions by sensing and integrating environmental cues and maintaining proper physiological conditions. Recent research has revealed that CNS functions are closely coordinated with the immune system. As even minor disturbances of the immune system in the CNS can lead to various dysfunctions, diseases, or even death, it is highly specialized and segregated from that in peripheral regions. Microglia in the parenchyma and macrophages at the interface between the CNS and peripheral regions are essential immune cells in the CNS that monitor environmental changes. Recent omics analyses have revealed that these cells exhibit highly heterogeneous populations. In this review, we summarize the functions and diversity of microglia in the brain parenchyma and those of macrophages in the border regions, such as the meninges, perivascular spaces, and choroid plexus.

lncRNA PCBP1-AS1 mediated downregulation of ITGAL as a prognostic biomarker in lung adenocarcinoma

Integrin alpha L (ITGAL) seemed to play a critical role in carcinogenesis and immune regulation. Nevertheless, the effects of ITGAL on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain elusive. The present paper intended to determine the effects of ITGAL in NSCLC via the integration of bioinformatic analyses. In this study, we found that the mRNA and protein levels of ITGAL were downregulated in NSCLC tissues. Significantly, low ITGAL expression was related to poorer prognosis and increased malignancy of NSCLC. In addition, GO analysis and KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the coexpressed genes of ITGAL were predominantly associated with various immune-associated signaling pathways, like the T cell receptor signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, chemokine signaling pathway, and NF-κB signaling pathway. Our result indicated that lncRNA-mediated downregulation of integrin alpha L expression was tightly related to immunocyte infiltration, immune modulators, and chemotactic factors in NSCLC, which potentially serves as a biomarker for clinical prognosis prediction and immunotherapy of NSCLC. This is the first comprehensive analysis of ITGAL in the prognosis, immune microenvironment, and immunotherapy of lung adenocarcinoma. ITGAL are promising biomarkers for predicting clinical outcomes and immunotherapy responses in patients with NSCLC.

A Signature Constructed Based on the Integrin Family Predicts Prognosis and Correlates with the Tumor Microenvironment of Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma

As an important element in regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME), integrin plays a key role in tumor progression. This study aimed to establish prognostic signatures to predict the overall survival and identify the immune landscape of patients with lung adenocarcinoma based on integrins. The Cancer Genome Atlas-Lung Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-LUAD) and Gene Expression Omnibus datasets were used to obtain information on mRNA levels and clinical factors (GSE72094). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model was used to create a prediction model that included six integrin genes. The nomogram, risk score, and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis all revealed that the signatures had a good prognostic value. The gene signatures may be linked to carcinogenesis and TME, according to a gene set enrichment analysis. The immunological and stromal scores were computed using the ESTIMATE algorithm, and the data revealed, the low-risk group had a higher score. We discovered that the B lymphocytes, plasma, CD4+ T, dendritic, and mast cells were much higher in the group with low-risk using the CiberSort. Inflammatory processes and several HLA family genes were upregulated in the low-risk group. The low-risk group with a better prognosis is more sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitor medication, according to immunophenoscore (IPS) research. We found that the patients in the high-risk group were more susceptible to chemotherapy than other group patients, according to the prophetic algorithm. The gene signatures could accurately predict the prognosis, identify the immune status of patients with lung adenocarcinoma, and provide guidance for therapy.

Microglia and Brain Macrophages as Drivers of Glioma Progression

Evidence is accumulating that the tumour microenvironment (TME) has a key role in the progression of gliomas. Non-neoplastic cells in addition to the tumour cells are therefore finding increasing attention. Microglia and other glioma-associated macrophages are at the centre of this interest especially in the context of therapeutic considerations. New ideas have emerged regarding the role of microglia and, more recently, blood-derived brain macrophages in glioblastoma (GBM) progression. We are now beginning to understand the mechanisms that allow malignant glioma cells to weaken microglia and brain macrophage defence mechanisms. Surface molecules and cytokines have a prominent role in microglia/macrophage-glioma cell interactions, and we discuss them in detail. The involvement of exosomes and microRNAs forms another focus of this review. In addition, certain microglia and glioma cell pathways deserve special attention. These "synergistic" (we suggest calling them "Janus") pathways are active in both glioma cells and microglia/macrophages where they act in concert supporting malignant glioma progression. Examples include CCN4 (WISP1)/Integrin α6β1/Akt and CHI3L1/PI3K/Akt/mTOR. They represent attractive therapeutic targets.

Microglia states and nomenclature: A field at its crossroads

Microglial research has advanced considerably in recent decades yet has been constrained by a rolling series of dichotomies such as "resting versus activated" and "M1 versus M2." This dualistic classification of good or bad microglia is inconsistent with the wide repertoire of microglial states and functions in development, plasticity, aging, and diseases that were elucidated in recent years. New designations continuously arising in an attempt to describe the different microglial states, notably defined using transcriptomics and proteomics, may easily lead to a misleading, although unintentional, coupling of categories and functions. To address these issues, we assembled a group of multidisciplinary experts to discuss our current understanding of microglial states as a dynamic concept and the importance of addressing microglial function. Here, we provide a conceptual framework and recommendations on the use of microglial nomenclature for researchers, reviewers, and editors, which will serve as the foundations for a future white paper.

ITGAL infers adverse prognosis and correlates with immunity in acute myeloid leukemia

Integrin subunit alpha L (ITGAL) was found aberrantly expressed in multiple cancer types, suggesting its essential role in tumorigenesis. Hence, we aimed to explore its definite role in acute myeloid leukemia and emphasize its associations with immunity. Here, we found ITGAL was highly expressed in AML patients and elevated expression was associated with poor prognosis. ITGAL was associated with age and cytogenetic risk classifications, but not relevant to AML driver gene mutations. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses determined ITGAL as an independent prognostic factor. The nomogram integrating ITGAL and clinicopathologic variables was constructed to predict 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS). Functional analyses revealed that ITGAL was mainly responsible for the production and metabolic process of cytokine. As for immunity, ITGAL was positively associated with MDSCs including iDCs, and macrophages in the TCGA-LAML cohort. We also found that ITGAL was positively associated with most immune checkpoint genes and cytokines. In addition, we found that ITGAL knockdown caused substantial inhibition of cell growth and significant induction of early apoptosis in AML cells. The xenograft study indicated that ITGAL knockdown prolonged the survival of recipient mice. Overall, ITGAL is an independent prognostic factor and is closely related to the number of MDSCs and cytokine production.

Wasl is crucial to maintain microglial core activities during glioblastoma initiation stages

Microglia actively promotes the growth of high-grade gliomas. Within the glioma microenvironment an amoeboid microglial morphology has been observed, however the underlying causes and the related impact on microglia functions and their tumor promoting activities is unclear. Using the advantages of the larval zebrafish model, we identified the underlying mechanism and show that microglial morphology and functions are already impaired during glioma initiation stages. The presence of pre-neoplastic HRasV12 expressing cells induces an amoeboid morphology of microglia, increases microglial numbers and decreases their motility and phagocytic activity. RNA sequencing analysis revealed lower expression levels of the actin nucleation promoting factor wasla in microglia. Importantly, a microglia specific rescue of wasla expression restores microglial morphology and functions. This results in increased phagocytosis of pre-neoplastic cells and slows down tumor progression. In conclusion, we identified a mechanism that de-activates core microglial functions within the emerging glioma microenvironment. Restoration of this mechanism might provide a way to impair glioma growth.

Metabolic Signature-Based Subtypes May Pave Novel Ways for Low-Grade Glioma Prognosis and Therapy

Metabolic signatures are frequently observed in cancer and are starting to be recognized as important regulators for tumor progression and therapy. Because metabolism genes are involved in tumor initiation and progression, little is known about the metabolic genomic profiles in low-grade glioma (LGG). Here, we applied bioinformatics analysis to determine the metabolic characteristics of patients with LGG from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). We also performed the ConsensusClusterPlus, the CIBERSORT algorithm, the Estimate software, the R package "GSVA," and TIDE to comprehensively describe and compare the characteristic difference between three metabolic subtypes. The R package WGCNA helped us to identify co-expression modules with associated metabolic subtypes. We found that LGG patients were classified into three subtypes based on 113 metabolic characteristics. MC1 patients had poor prognoses and MC3 patients obtained longer survival times. The different metabolic subtypes had different metabolic and immune characteristics, and may have different response patterns to immunotherapy. Based on the metabolic subtype, different patterns were exhibited that reflected the characteristics of each subtype. We also identified eight potential genetic markers associated with the characteristic index of metabolic subtypes. In conclusion, a comprehensive understanding of metabolism associated characteristics and classifications may improve clinical outcomes for LGG.