Direct interaction between CREB5 and OLIG2 enhances the self-renewal and proliferation of glioma stem cells

Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal form of brain cancer in humans, with a grim prognosis and a median overall survival rate of less than 15 months. Recently, glioma stem cells (GSCs) have been identified as a crucial factor in both tumor initiation and therapy resistance in GBM. Analysis of datasets and direct differentiation experiments on GSCs have both confirmed that CREB5 is expressed more highly in GSCs than in differentiated GSCs. Furthermore, studies on loss of function have shown that CREB5 promotes the proliferation and self-renewal ability of GSCs, while also reducing their tumor-forming ability in vivo. RNA-sequencing, Luciferase reporter assay, and ChIP assay have demonstrated a direct association between CREB5 and OLIG2. These findings suggest that targeting CREB5 could be an effective approach to overcoming GSCs.