Abstract
Gliomas arising in the brain parenchyma infiltrate into the surrounding brain to breakdown the established complex neuron-glia network. Mounting evidences suggests that the adult brain parenchyma innately restricts axonal regrowth and cellular infiltrations including those of glioma cells mainly by inhibitory molecules in CNS myelin as well as the proteoglycans associated with astrocytes. These mechanisms have been shown to be a major hurdle for successful axon regeneration at the time of brain injury. However, these innate inhibitory mechanisms may be injured by radiation therapy, which could compromise patients' survival periods as well as lead to long-term cognitive impairment. Herein, we review the molecular basis of the innate inhibitory mechanisms of the neuron-glia network and discuss its clinical implications. Greater insight into the interaction of glioma cells and the surrounding brain parenchyma is crucial for developing new therapies for theating these devastating tumors while still preserving the complex neuron-glia network.
