A frightening thought: Neuronal activity enhances tumor growth

Neuronal-driven glioma growth requires Gαi1 and Gαi3

“…Recent studies found that NLGN3 induces the expression of synaptic genes required for neuron-glioma synapse formation, as well as genes essential for glioma proliferation and invasiveness 14 , 15 . These studies identify NLGN3 as a key neuronal-derived factor for promoting activity-dependent glioma growth 17 - 19 .…”

“…Recent studies have revealed that neuronal activity and neuron-glioma circuits are vital for the malignancy of human glioma, and that the neuronal activity could be a key determinant for glioma tumorigenesis and progression 14 - 16 . Studies highlighted a crucial role of neuroligin-3 (NLGN3) in the mechanism of glioma progression 17 - 20 . NLGN3, a synaptic protein cleaved and secreted in an activity-dependent manner, was identified as the primary factor responsible for glioma progression 17 - 20 .…”

“…Studies highlighted a crucial role of neuroligin-3 (NLGN3) in the mechanism of glioma progression 17 - 20 . NLGN3, a synaptic protein cleaved and secreted in an activity-dependent manner, was identified as the primary factor responsible for glioma progression 17 - 20 . Xenografts derived from high-grade primary human glioma cells failed to grow in a NLGN3-deficient brain 18 , demonstrating that NLGN3 is required for glioma cell growth.…”

“…NLGN3 secreted from neurons was found to induce phosphorylation and activation of several key receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) on glioma cells to promote glioma progression 17 - 19 . Additionally, NLGN3-activated glioma cells produce feedforward expression of NLGN3 to further increase glioma cell growth and proliferation 17 - 19 .…”

“…NLGN3 secreted from neurons was found to induce phosphorylation and activation of several key receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) on glioma cells to promote glioma progression 17 - 19 . Additionally, NLGN3-activated glioma cells produce feedforward expression of NLGN3 to further increase glioma cell growth and proliferation 17 - 19 . Recent studies found that NLGN3 induces the expression of synaptic genes required for neuron-glioma synapse formation, as well as genes essential for glioma proliferation and invasiveness 14 , 15 .…”