Immune profiling of gliomas reveals a connection with Tau function and the tumor vasculature
Authors: Cejalvo Teresa , Gargini Ricardo , Segura-Collar Berta , Mata-Martínez Pablo , Herranz Beatriz , Cantero Diana , Ruano Yolanda , García-Pérez Daniel , Pérez-Núñez Ángel , Ramos Ana , Hernández-Laín Aurelio , Martín-Soberón María Cruz , Sánchez-Gómez Pilar , Sepúlveda-Sánchez Juan M. 
Published: July 2020

Background

Gliomas remain refractory to all attempted treatments, including those using immune checkpoint inhibitors. The characterization of the tumor (immune) microenvironment has been recognized as an important challenge to get a mechanistic explanation for this lack of response and to improve the therapy of glial tumors.

Methods

We designed a prospective analysis of the immune cells of gliomas by flow cytometry. Tumors with or withoutisocytrate dehydrogenase 1/2(IDH1/2) mutations were included in the study. The genetic profile and the presence of different molecular and cellular features of the gliomas were analyzed in parallel. The findings were validated in mouse glioma models.

Results

We observed that few immune cells infiltrate mutantIDH1/2gliomas and we distinguished two different profiles in theirIDH1/2wild-type counterparts. The first one has an important immune component, particularly enriched in myeloid cells with immunosuppressive features. The second group is more similar to mutantIDH1/2gliomas, with few immune cells and a less immunosuppressive profile. Notably, we observed a direct correlation between the immune content and the presence of vascular alterations, which were associated with a reduced expression of Tau, a microtubule-binding-protein that controls the formation of tumor vessels in gliomas. Furthermore, overexpression of Tau was able to reduce the immune content in orthotopic mouse glioma models, delaying tumor growth.

Conclusions

There is a correlation between vascular alterations and the immune profile of gliomas, which could be exploited for the design of more successful clinical trials with immunomodulatory molecules.

Key points

MutantIDH1/2gliomas harbor few immune cells in the tumor microenviroment.

We distinguished two different profiles in theIDH1/2wild-type gliomas.

There is a correlation between Tau expression, vascular alterations and the immune profile.

Importance of the Study

In the present work we have confirmed that IDHmut gliomas are “cold” tumors and we have identified a subgroup of IDHwt GBMs that also contains a low immune infiltrate. By contrast, a large subgroup of IDHwt GBMs are characterized by an important immune component, particularly enriched in myeloid cells, and an elevated expression of the ligand of PD-L1 in the immune compartment. Notably, we have observed a direct correlation between the immune content and the presence of vascular alterations, as well as with the reduced expression of Tau, a microtubule-binding protein that we described as a negative regulator of angiogenesis. Here, we add that overexpression of Tau reduces the immune content in orthotopic glioma models, delaying tumor growth.

This correlation between the vascular phenotype and the entrance and/or the function of the immune cells on gliomas, where Tau could play a central role, opens new venues to find synergistic treatments.