HRA001112
(Controlled Access)
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Our single-cell RNA-sequencing analyses of three spinal ependymoma subtypes dissected the microenvironmental landscape of spinal ependymomas and revealed tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) subsets with distinct functional phenotypes. CCL2+ TAMs were related to the immune response and exhibited a high capacity for apoptosis, while CD44+ TAMs were associated with tumor angiogenesis. By combining these results with those of scATAC-seq data analysis, we revealed that TEAD1 and EGR3 play roles in regulating the functional diversity of TAMs. We further identified diverse characteristics of both malignant cells and TAMs that might underlie the different malignant degrees of each subtype. Finally, assessment of cell-cell interactions revealed that stromal cells act as extracellular factors that mediate TAM diversity. Overall, our results revealed dual functions of TAMs in tumor progression, providing valuable insights for TAM-targeting immunotherapy. |