세미나

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant brain tumor and accompanies various symptoms such as headache, vomiting, double or blurred vision, seizures, eventually leading to death within 10 to 15 months. Treatment for these symptoms includes radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery to remove tumors. However, complete surgical resection to eliminate GBM is almost impossible due to its high invasiveness. When GBM cells migrate and invade the brain, they interact with various cells, including astrocytes, neurons, and endothelial cells. GBM cells release gliotransmitters to interact with surrounding cells, and intracellular Ca²⁺ increase plays a crucial role in this invasion process. In our study, we have demonstrated that Bestrophin1 (Best1) activation leads to intracellular Ca²⁺-induced release of glutamate in GBM cells. This glutamate was found to be associated not only with invasion and migration but also with a decrease in cell density. Additionally, the reduction of Best1 in GBM within the micro-environment contributed to the impairment of astrocytic barrier formation. Consequently, the weakened barrier led to an increase in GBM size. Furthermore, we observed an increase in Best1 levels at the tumor site in the brains of patients with high-grade GBM. We propose that Best1 could serve as a therapeutic target for high-grade gliomas.