Contribution of SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling to brain development and glioma progression

The SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling maintains central nervous system homeostasis through the interaction with the neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems, the neuroendocrine systems. Recently, the SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling has been reported to present nonrandom distribution in brain development and glioma progression, which exerts differential regulations on the assembly, differentiation, and function of neural precursors, neurons, glial cells, as well as glioma cells. In the present review, we highlight current knowledge about multiple molecular signaling pathways associated with the SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling in glioma. Not only is the expression of CXCR4 a key determinant of glioma progression, but SDF-1α is essential for site-specific invasive or metastatic processes. SDF-1α is the switch of the SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling from the endocrine loop to the autocrine and/or local paracrine loop in glioma progression and brain development. Studies of SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling in the field of brain development may provide valuable tactics for glioma treatment.