Biophysical basis for the induction of glioblastoma-like phenotype in astrocytes

While the direct biological factors underlying the progression of GBM, an aggressive form of brain cancer, have been extensively studied, emerging evidence suggests that indirect biological triggers, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), may also have a role. Since reactive astrocytes are associated with TBI, and astroglial cells are the source of proteoglycans which contribute to changes in biophysical characteristics (stochastic topography, stiffness) of the brain, we postulated a role for stochastic nanoroughness in the induction of glioma. Using a model system to emulate such physical cues, we demonstrate that human cortical astrocytes undergo spontaneous organization into spheroids in response to nanoroughness and retain the spheroid phenotype even upon withdrawal of the physical cues. Furthermore, spheroids serve as aggregation foci for naïve astrocytes; express activated MMP2, and disseminate upon implantation in mouse brain. RNA-seq revealed a tumoral phenotype with a gene expression pattern involving p53, ADAMTS proteases and fibronectin. Moreover, nanoroughness mediates a cross-talk between cancer cells and astrocytes through induced senescence. These findings implicate a role for stochastic biophysical cues in driving a potential malignant transformation of astrocytes.