Transcription factors NFIA and NFIB induce cellular differentiation high-grade astrocytoma

Astrocytomas are composed of heterogeneous cell populations. Compared to grade IV glioblastoma, low-grade astrocytomas have more differentiated cells and are associated with a better prognosis. Therefore, inducing cellular differentiation may serve as a therapeutic strategy. The nuclear factor one (NFI) transcription factors are essential for normal astrocytic differentiation and therefore could be effectors of cellular differentiation in glioblastoma. We analysed expression of family members NFIA and NFIB using high-grade astrocytoma mRNA expression datasets, and with immunofluorescence co-staining. Their expression is reduced in glioblastomas and is associated with differentiated and mature astrocyte-like cells at a cellular level. Furthermore, induction of NFI expression is sufficient to promote cellular differentiation in patient-derived glioblastoma xenografts. Our findings indicate that NFI proteins may have an endogenous pro-differentiative function in astrocytomas, similar to their role in normal development. Overall, our study establishes a basis for further investigation of targeting NFI-mediated differentiation as a potential differentiation therapy.