Glioma synapses recruit mechanisms of adaptive plasticity

Abstract The role of the nervous system in the regulation of cancer is increasingly appreciated. In gliomas, neuronal activity drives tumour progression through paracrine signalling factors such as neuroligin-3 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor 1–3 (BDNF), and also through electrophysiologically functional neuron-to-glioma synapses mediated by AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid) receptors 4,5 . The consequent glioma cell membrane depolarization drives tumour proliferation 4,6 . In the healthy brain, activity-regulated secretion of BDNF promotes adaptive plasticity of synaptic connectivity 7,8 and strength 9–15 . Here we show that malignant synapses exhibit similar plasticity…

• DR
  Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
• VA
  Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research
• RJ
  Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation
• CR
  Cancer Research UK
• CF
  Council for Higher Education
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: DP1NS111132, R01NS092597, P50CA165962
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Awards: U19CA264504, P50CA165962, R01CA258384
• DO
  Division of Chemistry