Fig. 3

Participation of astrocytes, microglia and TAMs in glioblastoma-associated events. Active cross-talk among glia cells, macrophages and tumor cells via inflammatory modulators and receptors are taking place in astrocytoma. Activated glia and macrophages change their morphology and metabolism as well as undergo transcriptomic re-programming, actively participating in anti-tumor responses at the first stage of tumorigenesis. However, as tumor progresses, glia cells and TAMs reprogrammed by tumor milieu boost tumor growth and invasion. Some of molecules participating in the process are depicted. In the upper right corner some genes and molecular pathways participating in tumor proliferation, migration and invasion as well as an angiogenesis are presented. ATG5 autophagy-related 5 gene, CHI3L1 glycoprotein chitinase 3-like 1, GSC glioma-like stem cells, HIF-1 hypoxia-inducible factor-1, Wnt wingless-type MMTV integration site family, TAMs tumor-associated macrophages