γ-aminobutyric Acid Receptor B Signaling Drives Glioblastoma in Females in an Immune-dependent Manner

Overview

Journal bioRxiv

Date 2024 Aug 2

PMID 39091833

Authors

Asmita Pathak

Sravya Palasalava

Maxon V Knott

Bruno Colon

Erika Ciervo

Yadi Zhou

Jonathan Mitchell

Oriana Teran Pumar

Harrison K A Wong

Li Zhang

Nikola Susic

Khushi Hemendra Shah

Kristen Kay

Diana Chin

Sadie Johnson

Feixiong Cheng

Costas A Lyssiotis

Dionysios C Watson

Michele Ceccarelli

Ashish Shah

Daniel R Wahl

Justin D Lathia

Defne Bayik

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sex differences in immune responses impact cancer outcomes and treatment response, including in glioblastoma (GBM). However, host factors underlying sex specific immune-cancer interactions are poorly understood. Here, we identify the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a driver of GBM-promoting immune response in females. We demonstrated that GABA receptor B (GABBR) signaling enhances L-Arginine metabolism and nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) expression in female granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (gMDSCs). GABBR agonist and GABA analog promoted GBM growth in females in an immune-dependent manner, while GABBR inhibition reduces gMDSC NOS2 production and extends survival only in females. Furthermore, female GBM patients have enriched GABA transcriptional signatures compared to males, and the use of GABA analogs in GBM patients is associated with worse short-term outcomes only in females. Collectively, these results highlight that GABA modulates anti-tumor immune response in a sex-specific manner, supporting future assessment of GABA pathway inhibitors as part of immunotherapy approaches.

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