Sontheimer Harald
Department of Neurobiology and Civitan International Research Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35244, USA.
Trends Neurosci. 2003 Oct;26(10):543-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2003.08.007.
The malignant transformation of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes or their progenitor cells gives rise to tumors that are collectively called gliomas. Although the vast majority of these tumors are believed to be of astrocytic origin, the actual cell of origin remains unknown. And whereas gliomas present with some genetic alterations in tumor-suppressor genes or oncogenes that are common among cancers, their biology differs significantly from other neoplasms. Most notably, they grow in a confined space defined by the bones of the skull and spinal column, and they spread by active cell migration rather than by passive, humorous spread. Recent research suggests that astrocyte-derived tumors co-opt neurotransmitters, their transporters and ion channels to support their unusual growth and invasive migration.
星形胶质细胞、少突胶质细胞或其祖细胞的恶性转化会产生统称为胶质瘤的肿瘤。尽管这些肿瘤中的绝大多数被认为起源于星形胶质细胞，但实际的起源细胞仍然未知。而且，虽然胶质瘤存在一些肿瘤抑制基因或癌基因的遗传改变，这些改变在癌症中很常见，但其生物学特性与其他肿瘤有显著差异。最值得注意的是，它们在由颅骨和脊柱界定的有限空间内生长，并且通过活跃的细胞迁移而不是被动的、体液扩散来扩散。最近的研究表明，星形胶质细胞衍生的肿瘤会利用神经递质、其转运体和离子通道来支持其异常生长和侵袭性迁移。
