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Xu L, Chen Y, Liu L, Hu X, He C, Zhou Y, Ding X, Luo M, Yan J, Liu Q, Li H, Lai D, Zou Z. Tumor-associated macrophage subtypes on cancer immunity along with prognostic analysis and SPP1-mediated interactions between tumor cells and macrophages. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011235. [PMID: 38648200 PMCID: PMC11034676 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) subtypes have been shown to impact cancer prognosis and resistance to immunotherapy. However, there is still a lack of systematic investigation into their molecular characteristics and clinical relevance in different cancer types. Single-cell RNA sequencing data from three different tumor types were used to cluster and type macrophages. Functional analysis and communication of TAM subpopulations were performed by Gene Ontology-Biological Process and CellChat respectively. Differential expression of characteristic genes in subpopulations was calculated using zscore as well as edgeR and Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and subsequently gene enrichment analysis of characteristic genes and anti-PD-1 resistance was performed by the REACTOME database. We revealed the heterogeneity of TAM, and identified eleven subtypes and their impact on prognosis. These subtypes expressed different molecular functions respectively, such as being involved in T cell activation, apoptosis and differentiation, or regulating viral bioprocesses or responses to viruses. The SPP1 pathway was identified as a critical mediator of communication between TAM subpopulations, as well as between TAM and epithelial cells. Macrophages with high expression of SPP1 resulted in poorer survival. By in vitro study, we showed SPP1 mediated the interactions between TAM clusters and between TAM and tumor cells. SPP1 promoted the tumor-promoting ability of TAM, and increased PDL1 expression and stemness of tumor cells. Inhibition of SPP1 attenuated N-cadherin and β-catenin expression and the activation of AKT and STAT3 pathway in tumor cells. Additionally, we found that several subpopulations could decrease the sensitivity of anti-PD-1 therapy in melanoma. SPP1 signal was a critical pathway of communication between macrophage subtypes. Some specific macrophage subtypes were associated with immunotherapy resistance and prognosis in some cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yibing Chen
- Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lingling Liu
- Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University & Sun Yat-sen Institute of Hematology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinyu Hu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengsi He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinyi Ding
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Minhua Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiajing Yan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Quentin Liu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongsheng Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongming Lai
- Shenshan Medical Center and Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhengzhi Zou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Spectral Analysis and Functional Probes, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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