Three-dimensional ultrastructural analysis of glioblastoma reveals spheresome-mediated intercellular communication.

PURPOSE: The tumor microenvironment plays a central role in glioblastoma progression and treatment resistance, with extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediating much of the intercellular communication. Here, we provide the first ultrastructural evidence of spheresomes -a specific EV subtype- predominance in human glioblastomas, together with novel observations on their transport and interactions.

METHODS

Tumor samples from four patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions from ultrathin serial sections.

RESULTS

In glioblastomas, spheresomes, contained within multivesicular spheres (MVSs), were the most prevalent EV subtype, exceeding multivesicular bodies containing exosomes in number and size. 3D reconstructions revealed numerous contacts between glioblastoma tumor cells and MVSs, active release events, and occasional traversal of endothelial cells into the vascular lumen, suggesting potential for both local and systemic transport. Additionally, we report independent and descriptive new ultrastructural observations of glioblastoma. These tumors well-differenciated cells exhibited irregular nuclei with nuclear blebs and nuclear envelope-limited chromatin sheets, as well as cytoplasmic concentric rough endoplasmic reticulum laminations, membranous stacks, crystalline bodies, and concentric rearrangements of gliofilaments. Primary cilia (9 + 0) were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings expand the ultrastructural profile of glioblastoma, highlight spheresomes as a potentially important EV population in tumor communication, and underscore the value of further molecular studies to evaluate their role as potential biomarkers.