Comparative dynamics of microglial and glioma cell motility at the infiltrative margin of brain tumours.

TitleComparative dynamics of microglial and glioma cell motility at the infiltrative margin of brain tumours.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsJuliano J, Gil O, Hawkins-Daarud A, Noticewala S, Rockne RC, Gallaher J, Massey SC, Sims PA, Anderson ARA, Swanson KR, Canoll P
JournalJ R Soc Interface
Volume15
Issue139
Date Published2018 02
ISSN1742-5662
Abstract

Microglia are a major cellular component of gliomas, and abundant in the centre of the tumour and at the infiltrative margins. While glioma is a notoriously infiltrative disease, the dynamics of microglia and glioma migratory patterns have not been well characterized. To investigate the migratory behaviour of microglia and glioma cells at the infiltrative edge, we performed two-colour time-lapse fluorescence microscopy of brain slices generated from a platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGFB)-driven rat model of glioma, in which glioma cells and microglia were each labelled with one of two different fluorescent markers. We used mathematical techniques to analyse glioma cells and microglia motility with both single cell tracking and particle image velocimetry (PIV). Our results show microglia motility is strongly correlated with the presence of glioma, while the correlation of the speeds of glioma cells and microglia was variable and weak. Additionally, we showed that microglia and glioma cells exhibit different types of diffusive migratory behaviour. Microglia movement fit a simple random walk, while glioma cell movement fits a super diffusion pattern. These results show that glioma cells stimulate microglia motility at the infiltrative margins, creating a correlation between the spatial distribution of glioma cells and the pattern of microglia motility.

DOI10.1098/rsif.2017.0582
Alternate JournalJ R Soc Interface
PubMed ID29445035
PubMed Central IDPMC5832721
Grant ListR01 NS073610 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States