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Neuropeptide adrenomedullin remodels stemness and macrophage dynamics in glioblastoma

Research Abstract

Highlights

Neuropeptide ADM is enriched in GSCs and regulated by EGFR
ADM promotes GSC self-renewal via the ADMR-STAT3 pathway
Secreted ADM triggers macrophage infiltration and polarization via the ADMR-STAT3/STAT6 axis
Inhibition of the ADM-ADMR-STAT3/STAT6 axis impairs GBM progression

Summary

The presence of self-renewing glioblastoma (GBM) stem cells (GSCs) and infiltrating pro-tumor macrophages constitutes two key hallmarks of GBM. Here, we identified the neuropeptide adrenomedullin (ADM) as a key factor regulating GSC-macrophage symbiosis. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression upregulates ADM in GSCs to enhance their self-renewal, glycolysis, and tumor growth by activating the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. GSC-secreted ADM promotes macrophage infiltration and pro-tumor reprogramming through activation of ADM receptor (ADMR), thereby engaging both STAT3 and STAT6 pathways. In GBM mouse and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, inhibition of the ADM-ADMR axis, STAT3, or STAT6 suppresses tumor progression, GSC self-renewal, and pro-tumor macrophage abundance, with dual inhibition of STAT3 and STAT6 leading to durable complete tumor regression in a subset of tumor-bearing mice. In human GBM tumors and plasmas, ADM correlates positively with GSC stemness, pro-tumor macrophage abundance, and poor prognosis. These findings highlight ADM-triggered GSC-macrophage symbiosis as a promising therapeutic target for GBM. 
Research Authors
Heba Ali, Fatima Khan, Wenjing Xuan, Yang Liu, Yuyun Huang,Donovan Whitfield, Lizhi Pang, and Peiwen Chen
Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Cell Reports
Research Member
Research Website
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(25)01113-1
Research Year
2025