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Liu L, Hao S, Gou S, Tang X, Zhang Y, Cai D, Xiao M, Zhang X, Zhang D, Shen J, Li Y, Chen Y, Zhao Y, Deng S, Wu X, Li M, Zhang Z, Xiao Z, Du F. Potential applications of dual haptoglobin expression in the reclassification and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Transl Res 2024; 272:19-40. [PMID: 38815898 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2024.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
HCC is a malignancy characterized by high incidence and mortality rates. Traditional classifications of HCC primarily rely on tumor morphology, phenotype, and multicellular molecular levels, which may not accurately capture the cellular heterogeneity within the tumor. This study integrates scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq to spotlight HP as a critical gene within a subgroup of HCC malignant cells. HP is highly expressed in HCC malignant cells and lowly expressed in T cells. Within malignant cells, elevated HP expression interacts with C3, promoting Th1-type responses via the C3/C3AR1 axis. In T cells, down-regulating HP expression favors the expression of Th1 cell-associated marker genes, potentially enhancing Th1-type responses. Consequently, we developed a "HP-promoted Th1 response reclassification" gene set, correlating higher activity scores with improved survival rates in HCC patients. Additionally, four predictive models for neoadjuvant treatment based on HP and C3 expression were established: 1) Low HP and C3 expression with high Th2 cell infiltration; 2) High HP and low C3 expression with high Th2 cell infiltration; 3) High HP and C3 expression with high Th1 cell infiltration; 4) Low HP and high C3 expression with high Th1 cell infiltration. In conclusion, the HP gene selected from the HCC malignant cell subgroup (Malignant_Sub 6) might serve as a potential ally against the tumor by promoting Th1-type immune responses. The establishment of the "HP-promoted Th1 response reclassification" gene set offers predictive insights for HCC patient survival prognosis and neoadjuvant treatment efficacy, providing directions for clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Siyu Hao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Shuang Gou
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Xiaolong Tang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Dan Cai
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Mintao Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Duoli Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Yan Li
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Yueshui Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Shuai Deng
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Xu Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Mingxing Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Zhuo Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Fukuan Du
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China; Cell Therapy & Cell Drugs of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Sichuan Luzhou, 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Sichuan Luzhou 646000, China.
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Teng Y, Xu J, Wang Y, Wen N, Ye H, Li B. Combining a glycolysis‑related prognostic model based on scRNA‑Seq with experimental verification identifies ZFP41 as a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC. Mol Med Rep 2024; 29:78. [PMID: 38516783 PMCID: PMC10975023 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2024.13203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with a poor prognosis, and its heterogeneity affects the response to clinical treatments. Glycolysis is highly associated with HCC therapy and prognosis. The present study aimed to identify a novel biomarker for HCC by exploring the heterogeneity of glycolysis in HCC. The intersection of both marker genes of glycolysis‑related cell clusters from single‑cell RNA sequencing analysis and mRNA data of liver HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas were used to construct a prognostic model through Cox proportional hazard regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. Data from the International Cancer Genome Consortium were used to validate the results of the analysis. Immune status analysis was then conducted. A significant gene in the prognostic model was identified as a potential biomarker and was verified through in vitro experiments. The results revealed that the glycolysis‑related prognostic model divided patients with HCC into high‑ and low‑risk groups. A nomogram combining the model and clinical features exhibited accurate predictive ability, with an area under the curve of 0.763 at 3 years. The high‑risk group exhibited a higher expression of checkpoint genes and lower tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion scores, suggesting that this group may be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. The tumor tissues had a higher zinc finger protein (ZFP)41 mRNA and protein expression compared with the adjacent tissues. In vitro analyses revealed that ZFP41 played a crucial role in cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the glycolysis‑related prognostic gene, ZFP41, is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target, and may play a crucial role in glycolysis and malignancy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Teng
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
- Research Center for Biliary Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Jianrong Xu
- Research Center for Biliary Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yaoqun Wang
- Research Center for Biliary Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Ningyuan Wen
- Research Center for Biliary Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Hui Ye
- Research Center for Biliary Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Bei Li
- Research Center for Biliary Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
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Zhang Q, Tsui YM, Zhang VX, Lu AJ, Lee JMF, Lee E, Cheung GCH, Li PM, Cheung ETY, Chia NH, Lo ILO, Chan ACY, Cheung TT, Ng IOL, Ho DWH. Reciprocal interactions between malignant cells and macrophages enhance cancer stemness and M2 polarization in HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Theranostics 2024; 14:892-910. [PMID: 38169544 PMCID: PMC10758064 DOI: 10.7150/thno.87962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The tumor microenvironment of cancers has emerged as a crucial component in regulating cancer stemness and plays a pivotal role in cell-cell communication. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these phenomena remain poorly understood. Methods: We performed the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on nine HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The heterogeneity of the malignant cells in pathway functions, transcription factors (TFs) regulation, overall survival, stemness, as well as ligand-receptor-based intercellular communication with macrophages were characterized. The aggressive and stemness feature for the target tumor subclone was validated by the conduction of in vitro assays including sphere formation, proliferation, Annexin V apoptosis, flow cytometry, siRNA library screening assays, and multiple in vivo preclinical mouse models including mouse hepatoma cell and human HCC cell xenograft models with subcutaneous or orthotopic injection. Results: Our analysis yielded a comprehensive atlas of 31,664 cells, revealing a diverse array of malignant cell subpopulations. Notably, we identified a stemness-related subclone of HCC cells with concurrent upregulation of CD24, CD47, and ICAM1 expression that correlated with poorer overall survival. Functional characterization both in vitro and in vivo validated S100A11 as one of the top downstream mediators for tumor initiation and stemness maintenance of this subclone. Further investigation of cell-cell communication within the tumor microenvironment revealed a propensity for bi-directional crosstalk between this stemness-related subclone and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Co-culture study showed that this interaction resulted in the maintenance of the expression of cancer stem cell markers and driving M2-like TAM polarization towards a pro-tumorigenic niche. We also consolidated an inverse relationship between the proportions of TAMs and tumor-infiltrating T cells. Conclusions: Our study highlighted the critical role of stemness-related cancer cell populations in driving an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and identified the S100A11 gene as a key mediator for stemness maintenance in HCC. Moreover, our study provides support that the maintenance of cancer stemness is more attributed to M2 polarization than the recruitment of the TAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yu-Man Tsui
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Vanilla Xin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Anna Jingyi Lu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Joyce Man-Fong Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Eva Lee
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Gary Cheuk-Hang Cheung
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Po-Man Li
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Nam-Hung Chia
- Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong
| | | | - Albert Chi-Yan Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tan-To Cheung
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Yang D, Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Su Y, Shen J, Yu B, Zhao K, Ding Y. Comprehensive analysis of scRNA-Seq and bulk RNA-Seq data reveals dynamic changes in tumor-associated neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma and leads to the establishment of a neutrophil-related prognostic model. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:4323-4335. [PMID: 38006433 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03567-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) single-cell sequencing data was conducted to explore the role of tumor-associated neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment. METHODS Analysis of single-cell sequencing data from 12 HCC tumor cores and five HCC paracancerous tissues identified cellular subpopulations and cellular marker genes. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to establish and validate prognostic models. xCELL, TIMER, QUANTISEQ, CIBERSORT, and CIBERSORT-abs analyses were performed to explore immune cell infiltration. Finally, the pattern of tumor-associated neutrophil roles in tumor microenvironmental components was explored. RESULTS A total of 271 marker genes for tumor-associated neutrophils were identified based on single-cell sequencing data. Prognostic models incorporating eight genes were established based on TCGA data. Immune cell infiltration differed between the high- and low-risk groups. The low-risk group benefited more from immunotherapy. Single-cell analysis indicated that tumor-associated neutrophils were able to influence macrophage, NK cell, and T-cell functions through the IL16, IFN-II, and SPP1 signaling pathways. CONCLUSION Tumor-associated neutrophils regulate immune functions by influencing macrophages and NK cells. Models incorporating tumor-associated neutrophil-related genes can be used to predict patient prognosis and immunotherapy responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dashuai Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yanbing Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yang Su
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College in Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Kailiang Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China.
| | - Youming Ding
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430060, China.
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Jia H, Wang W, Zhou Z, Chen Z, Lan Z, Bo H, Fan L. Single-cell RNA sequencing technology in human spermatogenesis: Progresses and perspectives. Mol Cell Biochem 2023:10.1007/s11010-023-04840-x. [PMID: 37659974 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04840-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis, a key part of the spermiation process, is regulated by a combination of key cells, such as primordial germ cells, spermatogonial stem cells, and somatic cells, such as Sertoli cells. Abnormal spermatogenesis can lead to azoospermia, testicular tumors, and other diseases related to male infertility. The application of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology in male reproduction is gradually increasing with its unique insight into deep mining and analysis. The data cover different periods of neonatal, prepubertal, pubertal, and adult stages. Different types of male infertility diseases including obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), Klinefelter Syndrome (KS), Sertoli Cell Only Syndrome (SCOS), and testicular tumors are also covered. We briefly review the principles and application of scRNA-seq and summarize the research results and application directions in spermatogenesis in different periods and pathological states. Moreover, we discuss the challenges of applying this technology in male reproduction and the prospects of combining it with other technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanbo Jia
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhaowen Zhou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhiyi Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zijun Lan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hao Bo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Liqing Fan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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Wang Q, Lin Y, Yu W, Chen X, He Q, Ye Z. The core role of macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma: the definition of molecular subtypes and the prognostic risk system. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1228052. [PMID: 37693905 PMCID: PMC10491020 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1228052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the tumor microenvironment (TME) is resistant to immunotherapy because of its specificity. It is meaningful to explore the role of macrophage, which is one of the most abundant immune cells in the TME, in cellular communication and its effect on the prognosis and immunotherapy of HCC. Methods: Dimensionality reduction and clustering of the single-cell RNA-seq data from the GSE149614 dataset were carried out to identify the cellular composition of HCC. CellChat was used to analyze the communication between different cells. The specifically highly expressed genes of macrophages were extracted for univariate Cox regression analysis to obtain prognostic genes for HCC cluster analysis, and the risk system of macrophage-specifically highly expressed genes was developed by random forest analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Prognosis, TME infiltration, potential responses to immunotherapy, and antineoplastic drugs were compared among molecular subtypes and between risk groups. Results: We found that HCC included nine identifiable cell types, of which macrophages had the highest communication intensity with each of the other eight cell types. Of the 179 specifically highly expressed genes of macrophage, 56 were significantly correlated with the prognosis of HCC, which classified HCC into three subtypes, which were reproducible and produced different survival outcomes, TME infiltration, and immunotherapy responses among the subtypes. In the integration of four macrophage-specifically highly expressed genes for the development of a risk system, the risk score was significantly involved in higher immune cell infiltration, poor prognosis, immunotherapy response rate, and sensitivity of six drugs. Conclusion: In this study, through single-cell RNA-seq data, we identified nine cell types, among which macrophage had the highest communication intensity with the rest of the cell types. Based on specifically highly expressed genes of macrophage, we successfully divided HCC patients into three clusters with distinct prognosis, TME, and therapeutic response. Additionally, a risk system was constructed, which provided a potential reference index for the prognostic target and preclinical individualized treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaona Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yunshou Lin
- Department of Hernia and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Wenguan Yu
- Department of Hernia and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiaogang Chen
- Department of Hernia and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Qingqing He
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhiyu Ye
- Department of Hernia and Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
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Suoangbaji T, Zhang VX, Ng IOL, Ho DWH. Single-Cell Analysis of Primary Liver Cancer in Mouse Models. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030477. [PMID: 36766817 PMCID: PMC9914042 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC), consisting mainly of hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, is one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The curative therapy for PLC is surgical resection and liver transplantation, but most PLCs are inoperable at diagnosis. Even after surgery, there is a high rate of tumor recurrence. There is an unmet clinical need to discover more effective treatment options for advanced PLCs. Pre-clinical mouse models in PLC research have played a critical role in identifying key oncogenic drivers and signaling pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have provided an unprecedented degree of resolution in such characterization. In this review, we will summarize the recent studies that utilized pre-clinical mouse models with the combination of scRNA-seq to provide an understanding of different aspects of PLC. We will focus particularly on the potentially actionable targets regarding the cellular and molecular components. We anticipate that the findings in mouse models could complement those in patients. With more defined etiological background, mouse models may provide valuable insights.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Correspondence: (I.O.-L.N.); (D.W.-H.H.); Fax: +852-28872-5197 (I.O.-L.N.); +852-2819-5375 (D.W.-H.H.)
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Correspondence: (I.O.-L.N.); (D.W.-H.H.); Fax: +852-28872-5197 (I.O.-L.N.); +852-2819-5375 (D.W.-H.H.)
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Chuwdhury GS, Ng IOL, Ho DWH. scAnalyzeR: A Comprehensive Software Package With Graphical User Interface for Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Analysis and its Application on Liver Cancer. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2022; 21:15330338221142729. [PMID: 36476060 PMCID: PMC9742707 DOI: 10.1177/15330338221142729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The application of single-cell RNA sequencing to delineate tissue heterogeneity and complexity has become increasingly popular. Given its tremendous resolution and high-dimensional capacity for in-depth investigation, single-cell RNA sequencing offers an unprecedented research power. Although some popular software packages are available for single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis and visualization, it is still a big challenge for their usage, as they provide only a command-line interface and require significant level of bioinformatics skills. Methods: We have developed scAnalyzeR, which is a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis pipeline with an interactive and user-friendly graphical interface for analyzing and visualizing single-cell RNA sequencing data. It accepts single-cell RNA sequencing data from various technology platforms and different model organisms (human and mouse) and allows flexibility in input file format. It provides functionalities for data preprocessing, quality control, basic summary statistics, dimension reduction, unsupervised clustering, differential gene expression, gene set enrichment analysis, correlation analysis, pseudotime cell trajectory inference, and various visualization plots. It also provides default parameters for easy usage and allows a wide range of flexibility and optimization by accepting user-defined options. It has been developed as a docker image that can be run in any docker-supported environment including Linux, Mac, and Windows, without installing any dependencies. Results: We compared the performance of scAnalyzeR with 2 other graphical tools that are popular for analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing data. The comparison was based on the comprehensiveness of functionalities, ease of usage and flexibility, and execution time. In general, scAnalyzeR outperformed the other tested counterparts in various aspects, demonstrating its superior overall performance. To illustrate the usefulness of scAnalyzeR in cancer research, we have analyzed the in-house liver cancer single-cell RNA sequencing dataset. Liver cancer tumor cells were revealed to have multiple subpopulations with distinctive gene expression signatures. Conclusion: scAnalyzeR has comprehensive functionalities and demonstrated usability. We anticipate more functionalities to be adopted in the future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- GS Chuwdhury
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,Daniel Ho, Department of Pathology and State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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