Asthma reduces glioma formation by T cell decorin-mediated inhibition of microglia1
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There might be a silver lining to asthma that there is a lower risk of developing glioma.
This study investigated the inverse association between Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) brain cancer and asthma by using a genetically engineered mouse model of NF1-low-grade optic pathway glioma (Nf1OPG).
Asthma is an inflammatory disease caused by the hyper-reactive immune responses associated with T helper cells. The results have shown that increased expression of decorin in asthma-induced T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) inhibits microglial Ccl5 production, which is the critical growth factor for developing Nf1-optic glioma. Decorin, which is a pro-inflammatory agent (potentiates IFN-gamma activity), has demonstrated anti-oncogenic properties in this study.
It is suggested that other T-cell-mediated systemic conditions might impact gliomagenesis through similar mechanisms. Future study of their influence to the pathogenesis in CNS can be the key to revealing immunomodulatory treatment strategies for neurological disorders!
