Transcriptional regulation of astrocyte-T cell immune interactions in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer in adults. One of the reasons why glioblastomas grow so aggressively is that the immune system's response to the tumour is highly suppressed. We have found that a specific type of brain cells called astrocytes can interact with immune cells and that this can weaken the response of the immune cells to the tumour, allowing glioblastomas to grow freely. 
We have also identified a molecule that controls gene function in astrocytes, and which is essential for astrocyte-immune interactions and importantly plays a role in weakening the immune response. 

In this project, we will analyse genetic data from astrocytes in experimental models and human patients to identify messenger molecules which are produced by the astrocytes and act on immune cells to weaken their response to glioblastomas. We will also determine whether these messenger molecules can activate immune cells that can be used to attack tumour cells. We hope that this research will lead to better understanding why the patient’s immune system is not attacking the tumour successfully and to finding new treatments that can help the immune system to overcome the suppressive signals from the tumour.