Transformation of quiescent adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells into malignant glioma through a multistep reactivation process

How malignant gliomas arise in a mature brain remains a mystery, which hinders the development of effective treatments. Which cell types can escape their quiescent, adult state and how they do so is unknown. Additionally, because gliomas are only detected at advanced stages, the full course of transformation remains uncharacterized. Here we report that adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells, despite their relatively quiescent properties, can be reactivated to a highly proliferative state by p53 and NF1 mutations and give rise to malignant gliomas. Furthermore, we describe the early phase of gliomagenesis for the first time, revealing a multistep process of reactivation, dormancy, and final transformation in which mammalian target of rapamycin signaling plays a critical role at both early and late steps