A neurotransmitter called GABA enhances the growth of glioblastoma in female mice. Really!

Since when is GABA a female only neurotransmitter! Junk journalism and junk science!

Google search: "GABA is not a sex-specific neurotransmitter, as it is found and operates as the primary inhibitory system in both male and female brains."

May I guess that the sex differences were poorly tested or exaggerated by these researchers.

"A neurotransmitter called GABA enhances the growth of glioblastoma in female mice by activating monocyte-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which then suppress the activity of T cells. A similar pathway exists in women with glioblastoma [???], suggesting that blocking GABA signalling could be a treatment option."

"Glioblastoma is a deadly primary brain tumor with a complex immunosuppressive microenvironment that poses a therapeutic challenge. A study now demonstrates that GABAB signaling enhances immunosuppressive programs of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in female models [???] of preclinical glioblastoma."

From the abstract:

"Sex differences in immune responses impact cancer outcomes and treatment response, including in glioblastoma (GBM). However, host factors underlying distinct immune-cancer interactions are poorly understood. Here we identify γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a female-specific driver [???] of GBM-promoting immune response.

We demonstrated that GABA receptor B (GABBR) signaling enhances the T cell suppressive function of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (gMDSCs) from female mice by upregulating the cationic amino acid transporter 2–L-arginine–nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) pathway.

GABBR agonism promotes GBM growth in female preclinical models through gMDSCs, while GABBR antagonism extends survival and reduces NOS2 in tumor-infiltrating gMDSCs only in female mice. 

Immune cells from female participants with GBM have enriched GABA transcriptional signatures and a higher GABA concentration compared to male counterparts.

Collectively, these results highlight the sex-specific immunomodulatory role of GABA in tumorigenesis, supporting future assessment of GABA pathway inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy."

Nature Briefing: Cancer

GABA shapes GBM immune responses in a sex-dependent manner (no public access)

GABA signaling activation drives glioblastoma progression in female mice through myeloid-derived suppressor cells (open access)