Abstract
Widespread alterations in RNA alternative splicing (AS) have been identified in adult gliomas. However, their regulatory mechanism, biological significance, and therapeutic potential remain largely elusive. Here, using a computational approach with both bulk and single-cell RNA-Seq, we uncover a prognostic AS signature linked with neural developmental hierarchies. Using advanced iPSC glioma models driven by glioma driver mutations, we show that this AS signature could be enhanced by EGFRvIII and inhibited by in situ IDH1 mutation. Functional validations of 2 isoform switching events in CERS5 and MPZL1 show regulations of sphingolipid metabolism and SHP2 signaling, respectively. Analysis of upstream RNA binding proteins reveals PTBP1 as a key regulator of the AS signature where targeting of PTBP1 suppresses tumor growth and promotes the expression of a neuron marker TUJ1 in glioma stem-like cells. Overall, our data highlights the role of AS in affecting glioma malignancy and heterogeneity and its potential as a therapeutic vulnerability for treating adult gliomas.
Authors
Xiao Song, Deanna Tiek, Shunichiro Miki, Tianzhi Huang, Minghui Lu, Anshika Goenka, Rebeca Iglesia, Xiaozhou Yu, Runxin Wu, Maya Walker, Chang Zeng, Hardik Shah, Shao Huan Samuel Weng, Allen Huff, Wei Zhang, Tomoyuki Koga, Christopher Hubert, Craig M. Horbinski, Frank B. Furnari, Bo Hu, Shi-Yuan Cheng
Figure 3
Intratumoral AS heterogeneity is associated with the developmental hierarchy in glioma.
Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)