Solid
cancers develop within a supportive microenvironment that promotes
tumor formation and growth through the elaboration of
mitogens and
chemokines. Within these
tumors, monocytes (macrophages and microglia) represent rich sources of these stromal factors. Leveraging a genetically engineered mouse model of
neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) low-grade
brain tumor (
optic glioma), we have previously demonstrated that microglia are essential for
glioma formation and maintenance. To identify potential
tumor-associated microglial factors that support
glioma growth (gliomagens), we initiated a comprehensive large-scale discovery effort using optimized
RNA-sequencing methods focused specifically on
glioma-associated microglia. Candidate microglial gliomagens were prioritized to identify potential secreted or membrane-bound
proteins, which were next validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction as well as by
RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization following
minocycline-mediated microglial inactivation in vivo. Using these selection criteria,
chemokine (C-C motif)
ligand 5 (Ccl5) was identified as a
chemokine highly expressed in genetically engineered Nf1 mouse
optic gliomas relative to nonneoplastic optic nerves. As a candidate gliomagen, recombinant Ccl5 increased Nf1-deficient optic nerve astrocyte growth in vitro. Importantly, consistent with its critical role in maintaining
tumor growth, treatment with Ccl5
neutralizing antibodies reduced Nf1 mouse
optic glioma growth and improved
retinal dysfunction in vivo. Collectively, these findings establish Ccl5 as an important microglial
growth factor for low-grade
glioma maintenance relevant to the development of future stroma-targeted
brain tumor therapies.