KCa3.1 inhibition switches the phenotype of glioma-infiltrating microglia/macrophages

Cell Death Dis. 2016 Apr 7;7(4):e2174. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2016.73.

Abstract

Among the strategies adopted by glioma to successfully invade the brain parenchyma is turning the infiltrating microglia/macrophages (M/MΦ) into allies, by shifting them toward an anti-inflammatory, pro-tumor phenotype. Both glioma and infiltrating M/MΦ cells express the Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (KCa3.1), and the inhibition of KCa3.1 activity on glioma cells reduces tumor infiltration in the healthy brain parenchyma. We wondered whether KCa3.1 inhibition could prevent the acquisition of a pro-tumor phenotype by M/MΦ cells, thus contributing to reduce glioma development. With this aim, we studied microglia cultured in glioma-conditioned medium or treated with IL-4, as well as M/MΦ cells acutely isolated from glioma-bearing mice and from human glioma biopsies. Under these different conditions, M/MΦ were always polarized toward an anti-inflammatory state, and preventing KCa3.1 activation by 1-[(2-Chlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole (TRAM-34), we observed a switch toward a pro-inflammatory, antitumor phenotype. We identified FAK and PI3K/AKT as the molecular mechanisms involved in this phenotype switch, activated in sequence after KCa3.1. Anti-inflammatory M/MΦ have higher expression levels of KCa3.1 mRNA (kcnn4) that are reduced by KCa3.1 inhibition. In line with these findings, TRAM-34 treatment, in vivo, significantly reduced the size of tumors in glioma-bearing mice. Our data indicate that KCa3.1 channels are involved in the inhibitory effects exerted by the glioma microenvironment on infiltrating M/MΦ, suggesting a possible role as therapeutic targets in glioma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromones / pharmacology
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / genetics
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Glioma / drug therapy
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology
  • Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / genetics
  • Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microglia / cytology
  • Microglia / metabolism*
  • Morpholines / pharmacology
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • Chromones
  • Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels
  • Kcnn4 protein, mouse
  • Morpholines
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TRAM 34
  • Interleukin-4
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
  • Ptk2 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt