Macrophage-mediated brain-bone marrow crosstalk promotes chronic stress-induced glioma growth.

Chronic stress induces stress-associated macrophages from bone marrow monocytes that promote glioma growth, with C5aR1 signaling playing a key role.

• Why it matters: Understanding how stress influences tumor progression is critical, as stress worsens cancer outcomes, but the specific immune mechanisms involved remain unclear.
• What they did: The study used multi-omics analysis, parabiosis experiments, and genetic and pharmacologic interventions to identify and manipulate stress-induced macrophages in glioma models, focusing on C5aR1 signaling.
• The result: Reducing stress-induced macrophages or blocking C5aR1 signaling diminishes glioma growth, highlighting new immune-targeted strategies to counteract stress-related tumor progression.