Dissecting the Immunological Microenvironment of Glioma Based on IDH Status: Implications for Immunotherapy

Gliomas, particularly IDH-wildtype ones, are associated with poor prognosis, yet their immunological landscape remains uncertain. We analyzed RNA sequencing data from 55 glioma patients, estimating immune infiltration with CIBERSORTx and immune cell states via Ecotyper. IDH-wildtype gliomas showed s...

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Main Authors: Miyu Kikuchi, Hirokazu Takami, Yukari Kobayashi, Koji Nagaoka, Yosuke Kitagawa, Masashi Nomura, Shunsaku Takayanagi, Shota Tanaka, Nobuhito Saito, Kazuhiro Kakimi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/13/1035
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author Miyu Kikuchi
Hirokazu Takami
Yukari Kobayashi
Koji Nagaoka
Yosuke Kitagawa
Masashi Nomura
Shunsaku Takayanagi
Shota Tanaka
Nobuhito Saito
Kazuhiro Kakimi
author_facet Miyu Kikuchi
Hirokazu Takami
Yukari Kobayashi
Koji Nagaoka
Yosuke Kitagawa
Masashi Nomura
Shunsaku Takayanagi
Shota Tanaka
Nobuhito Saito
Kazuhiro Kakimi
author_sort Miyu Kikuchi
collection DOAJ
description Gliomas, particularly IDH-wildtype ones, are associated with poor prognosis, yet their immunological landscape remains uncertain. We analyzed RNA sequencing data from 55 glioma patients, estimating immune infiltration with CIBERSORTx and immune cell states via Ecotyper. IDH-wildtype gliomas showed significantly higher immune cell infiltration (<i>p</i> = 0.002), notably of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and macrophages, and a greater proportion of exhausted T cells compared to IDH-mutant gliomas. Clustering based on immune profiles revealed two groups. Cluster A, enriched for IDH-wildtype cases, exhibited heightened immune infiltration but also marked immunosuppression. Cluster B, which included both IDH-wildtype and mutant cases, showed lower levels of immune infiltration. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cultured from IDH-wildtype tumors demonstrated limited expansion following anti-PD-1, a CSF1R inhibitor, or a STAT3 inhibitor treatment, without clear cluster-specific differences. Tumor-reactive TILs were mainly observed in cluster A. These findings highlight that IDH-wildtype gliomas have an immunosuppressive and heterogeneous microenvironment, potentially limiting responses to single-agent immunotherapies. A personalized, multi-targeted approach addressing multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms may be essential to improve immunotherapy outcomes in this aggressive glioma subgroup.
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spelling doaj-art-6491af2e24bd4d53911e7a58ee87ecd52025-08-20T03:16:55ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-07-011413103510.3390/cells14131035Dissecting the Immunological Microenvironment of Glioma Based on IDH Status: Implications for ImmunotherapyMiyu Kikuchi0Hirokazu Takami1Yukari Kobayashi2Koji Nagaoka3Yosuke Kitagawa4Masashi Nomura5Shunsaku Takayanagi6Shota Tanaka7Nobuhito Saito8Kazuhiro Kakimi9Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, JapanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, JapanDepartment of Immunology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama 589-8511, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Immunology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama 589-8511, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, JapanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, JapanDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Hidaka 350-1298, Saitama, JapanDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Okayama Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Okayama, JapanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, JapanDepartment of Immunology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama 589-8511, Osaka, JapanGliomas, particularly IDH-wildtype ones, are associated with poor prognosis, yet their immunological landscape remains uncertain. We analyzed RNA sequencing data from 55 glioma patients, estimating immune infiltration with CIBERSORTx and immune cell states via Ecotyper. IDH-wildtype gliomas showed significantly higher immune cell infiltration (<i>p</i> = 0.002), notably of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and macrophages, and a greater proportion of exhausted T cells compared to IDH-mutant gliomas. Clustering based on immune profiles revealed two groups. Cluster A, enriched for IDH-wildtype cases, exhibited heightened immune infiltration but also marked immunosuppression. Cluster B, which included both IDH-wildtype and mutant cases, showed lower levels of immune infiltration. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cultured from IDH-wildtype tumors demonstrated limited expansion following anti-PD-1, a CSF1R inhibitor, or a STAT3 inhibitor treatment, without clear cluster-specific differences. Tumor-reactive TILs were mainly observed in cluster A. These findings highlight that IDH-wildtype gliomas have an immunosuppressive and heterogeneous microenvironment, potentially limiting responses to single-agent immunotherapies. A personalized, multi-targeted approach addressing multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms may be essential to improve immunotherapy outcomes in this aggressive glioma subgroup.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/13/1035gliomaIDH statustumor microenvironmentimmunotherapytumor-infiltrating lymphocytesimmune checkpoint inhibitors
spellingShingle Miyu Kikuchi
Hirokazu Takami
Yukari Kobayashi
Koji Nagaoka
Yosuke Kitagawa
Masashi Nomura
Shunsaku Takayanagi
Shota Tanaka
Nobuhito Saito
Kazuhiro Kakimi
Dissecting the Immunological Microenvironment of Glioma Based on IDH Status: Implications for Immunotherapy
Cells
glioma
IDH status
tumor microenvironment
immunotherapy
tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes
immune checkpoint inhibitors
title Dissecting the Immunological Microenvironment of Glioma Based on IDH Status: Implications for Immunotherapy
title_full Dissecting the Immunological Microenvironment of Glioma Based on IDH Status: Implications for Immunotherapy
title_fullStr Dissecting the Immunological Microenvironment of Glioma Based on IDH Status: Implications for Immunotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Dissecting the Immunological Microenvironment of Glioma Based on IDH Status: Implications for Immunotherapy
title_short Dissecting the Immunological Microenvironment of Glioma Based on IDH Status: Implications for Immunotherapy
title_sort dissecting the immunological microenvironment of glioma based on idh status implications for immunotherapy
topic glioma
IDH status
tumor microenvironment
immunotherapy
tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes
immune checkpoint inhibitors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/13/1035
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