Pericytes orchestrate a tumor-restraining microenvironment in glioblastoma [Spatial Transcriptomics]

To functionally assess the role of pericytes in glioma development and progression, we study the effects of pericyte depletion in orthotopic and transgenic mouse models of high-grade glioma using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. We present evidence that pericytes mitigate glioma development by orchestrating a tumor-suppressive microenvironment, challenging the concept of pericytes as merely pro-oncogenic cells, and underscoring the importance of pericyte preservation in future GBM therapies. High-grade gliomas were initiated by stereotactically delivering the glioma oncogenic drivers PDGFB and shp53 into the subventricular zone of transgenic adult Ntv-a mice that were either pericyte-poor (Pdgfbret/ret) or control (Pdgfbret/+). 4 Pdgfbret/+ and 4 Pdgfbret/ret mice were sacrificed when displaying severe symptoms. Spatial transcriptomics sequencing was performed using the 10X Genomics Visium system.