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Adaptive chromatin remodeling in glioblastoma stem cell plasticity and drug tolerance

ABSTRACT: Many cancers are postulated to harbor developmental hierarchies in which cells display variability in stem-like character, tumor propagating ability, and proliferation. In glioblastoma (GBM), glioma stem cells (GSCs) reside atop such a tumor cellular hierarchy, and are thought to resist current therapies and thus underlie inevitable relapse. Here we show that GSCs can evade RTK inhibition by reversibly regressing to a slow-cycling state reminiscent of quiescent neural stem cells. This process involves up-regulation of numerous histone demethylases, including KDM6A/B, which remodel the chromatin landscape and are selectively essential for drug persister survival. Chromatin remodeling is accompanied by activation of various neurodevelopmental master regulators and Notch signaling, changes which closely parallel critical aspects of neural stem cell biology. Thus our findings illustrate how cancer cells may hijack native developmental programs for deranged proliferation, adaptation, and tolerance in the face of stress. Our studies highlight key roles for chromatin remodeling and developmental plasticity in GBM biology, and suggest strategies for overcoming therapeutic resistance by targeting epigenetic and developmental pathways.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE74557 | GEO | 2017/01/25

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA300725

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:SUMMARY Terminal differentiation has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma (GBM). Culturing of GBM derived tumor initiating glioma stem cells (GSCs) in fetal bovine serum containing media is a proposed mode of differentiation that is thought to induce loss of stem cell characteristics, promote neural lineage differentiation and a parallel loss of tumor initiation capacity. Here we show that GSCs retained both neurosphere formation and tumor initiation abilities after short or long term serum exposure. Under serum induced differentiating conditions, GSCs expressed both neural lineage and stem cell markers, highlighting the aberrant pseudo-differentiation state. GSCs maintained under adherent differentiating conditions continued to proliferate and initiate tumor formation with efficiencies similar to GSCs maintained under proliferating (neurosphere) conditions. Proneural (PN) GSCs under serum exposure showed an induction of mesenchymal (MES) gene expression signatures. Our data indicate that the tumor initiation ability of GSCs is independent of their differentiation state and that terminal differentiation as a therapeutic approach may not effectively negate tumorigenicity of GSCs. SIGNIFICANCE Terminal differentiation has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma (GBM). Culturing of GBM derived tumor initiating glioma stem cells (GSCs) in fetal bovine serum containing media is a proposed mode of differentiation that is thought to induce loss of stem cell characteristics, promote neural lineage differentiation and a parallel loss of tumor initiation capacity. Here we show that GSCs retained both neurosphere formation and tumor initiation abilities after short or long term serum exposure. Under serum induced differentiating conditions, GSCs expressed both neural lineage and stem cell markers, highlighting the aberrant pseudo-differentiation state. GSCs maintained under adherent differentiating conditions continued to proliferate and initiate tumor formation with efficiencies similar to GSCs maintained under proliferating (neurosphere) conditions. Proneural (PN) GSCs under serum exposure showed an induction of mesenchymal (MES) gene expression signatures. Our data indicate that the tumor initiation ability of GSCs is independent of their differentiation state and that terminal differentiation as a therapeutic approach may not effectively negate tumorigenicity of GSCs.

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Adaptive chromatin remodeling in glioblastoma stem cell plasticity and drug tolerance

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