GlioM&M: Web-based tool for studying circulating and infiltrating monocytes and macrophages in glioma

Abstract

Monocytes, macrophages and microglia make up a large part of the glioma environment and have an important role in maintaining and propagating glioma progression. Targeting these cells to inhibit their tumor-promoting effect and reprogramming them into an anti-tumor phenotype is a potential therapeutic approach for glioma. In this study we analyzed the transcriptomes of eight different monocyte subgroups derived from the brain and the blood of glioma-bearing mice. We compared the expression profile of blood-derived monocytes versus tumor-infiltrating monocytes and found increased expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways in tumor infiltrating monocytes. To help disseminate these datasets, we created a user-friendly web-based tool accessible at www.glioma-monocytes.com. This tool can be used for validation purposes and to elucidate gene expression profiles of tumor-interacting monocytes and macrophages as well as blood-derived circulating monocytes. This tool can also be used to identify new markers and targets for therapy in these different cell populations.