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Journal of Southern Medical University logoLink to Journal of Southern Medical University
. 2025 Aug 20;45(8):1643–1653. [Article in Chinese] doi: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.08.09

基于免疫抑制性Neu_2中性粒细胞亚群模型精准预测前列腺癌生存预后及免疫治疗应答

A risk prediction model for prognosis and immunotherapy response in prostate cancer patients based on immunosuppressive neutrophil Neu_2 subsets

CHEN Zixian 1,2, ZHOU Jiawei 1, TAN Lei 1, HUANG Zhipeng 1, XUE Kangyi 1, CHEN Mingkun 1,
Editor: 郎 朗
PMCID: PMC12415569  PMID: 40916526

Abstract

Objective

To identify immunosuppressive neutrophil subsets in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and construct a risk prediction model for prognosis and immunotherapy response of the patients based on these neutrophil subsets.

Methods

Single-cell and transcriptome data from PCa patients were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Neutrophil subsets in PCa were identified through unsupervised clustering, and their biological functions and effects on immune regulation were analyzed by functional enrichment, cell interaction, and pseudo-time series analyses. Lasso-Cox regression was utilized to construct a prognostic risk model based on the immunosuppressive neutrophil subsets, and survival analysis and ROC curve analysis were used to compare the prognosis of PCa patients with high and low risks stratified using this model. The relationship of the prognostic risk model with PCa immune infiltration and immune response was evaluated using CIBERSORT and TIDE scores.

Results

PCa tissues showed a significantly greater proportion of infiltrating neutrophils than the adjacent normal tissues (P<0.05). PCa-associated neutrophils could be clustered into two independent cell subsets: Neu_1 and Neu_2. Neu_2 cells exhibited highly enriched immunoregulatory functions and were highly differentiated and mature, with upregulated immunosuppressive cytokines such as TGFB1, ITGB2, and LGALS3. Based on the genetic characteristics of Neu_2 cell subsets, the prognostic risk model was constructed. The patients in the high-risk group identified by the model had a shorter biochemical recurrence time (P<0.05) and a higher proportion of Tregs and M2-TAMs cell infiltration (P<0.05) with a higher risk of immune rejection and poorer immune response scores.

Conclusion

PCa-associated neutrophils are highly heterogeneous. The prognostic risk model constructed based on the immunosuppressive neutrophil Neu_2 subset can effectively predict both the survival outcomes and immune response of PCa patients.

Keywords: single-cell RNA sequencing, transcriptomics, prostate cancer, neutrophils, tumor microenvironment


前列腺癌(PCa)作为男性高发恶性肿瘤1,发病率随人口老龄化持续攀升2,其临床进展可划分为激素敏感型与去势抵抗型(mCRPC),后者转移性强且治疗难度显著增加。雄激素剥夺疗法已成为局部晚期和转移性肿瘤患者的主要治疗方法3,尽管使用第二代抗雄激素治疗,最初抑制肿瘤,但大多数患者最终复发为mCRPC4。PCa作为免疫“冷”肿瘤,常呈现“免疫沙漠”或“免疫排斥”表型5,而免疫检查点抑制剂(如细胞程序性死亡受体-1/程序性死亡配体1、细胞毒T淋巴细胞抗原4靶向疗法)靶虽在实体瘤中疗效显著6,但其在PCa中的应答率存在显著异质性,亟需生物标志物筛选敏感人群78。当前研究聚焦PCa肿瘤微环境(TME)异质性解析,以突破免疫治疗瓶颈并优化临床策略。有研究揭示了中性粒细胞在PCa中具有关键调控作用9,有研究发现PCa中存在一类具有衰老特征的TREM2+中性粒细胞亚群,并与不良预后相关;同时发现抑制中性粒细胞,可提高抗雄激素药物的疗效10;在雄激素剥夺治疗或化疗后,中性粒细胞的扩增与治疗耐药和复发密切相关11。然而,目前基于中性粒细胞亚群基因特征来预测PCa患者预后的研究较为缺乏,并且中性粒细胞在微环境中的细胞交互和作用通路等仍有待研究。

传统批量RNA-seq难以解析细胞异质性与互作网络1213,而单细胞RNA测序(scRNA-seq)可精准刻画肿瘤微环境(如巨噬细胞亚群、耐药细胞)的细胞特异性特征13。本研究突破传统RNA-seq技术瓶颈,通过scRNA-seq全景解析PCa的TME。通过对中性粒细胞亚群的鉴定、并结合大量转录组学数据和临床数据的综合分析,深入探讨PCa患者中性粒细胞亚群在TME中的交互关系及作用通路,并基于中性粒细胞亚群特征构建出PCa免疫治疗预后预测模型,准确预测PCa患者的预后,旨在为PCa患者的免疫治疗提供新的治疗靶点。

1. 材料和方法

1.1. 材料

1.1.1. 细胞

人PCa细胞系22RV1、PC3、DU145、Lncap和Vcap均来源于中国科学院上海细胞库。

1.1.2. 临床标本

PCa组织标本从南方医科大学第三附属医院病理科获得,所有患者均知情同意,本研究经南方医科大学伦理委员会批准(伦理批号:N202503-09)。

1.2. 方法

1.2.1. 数据源和预处理

PCa scRNA-seq数据集从GEO数据库下载。选取10对PCa原发肿瘤及对应的正常组织进行配对分析。使用R4.2.2软件中Seurat包的“CreateSeuratObject”功能,将PCa样本转换为Seurat对象,筛选包含200~4000个特征的细胞和3个以上细胞共享的基因。对各个数据集进行质控,设立统一的纳入标准:nFeature_RNA>400,nFeature_RNA<2500,通过“PercentageFeatureSet”函数计算线粒体基因的百分比,并排除高于5%的细胞。PCa的转录组数据和临床信息分别从TCGA数据库和GEO数据库下载,去除缺失数据及生存时间>84月的患者,最终筛选出TCGA队列的457例患者和GSE70770队列的319例患者,在本研究中作为训练集和验证集。

1.2.2. scRNA-seq 数据集成和降维聚类

使用Seurat包的“Harmony”函数(max.iter.harmony=20)来集成规范化数据,以去除批次效应。对数据进行缩放并进行主成分分析)。使用FindNeighbors基于主成分构建细胞邻域图,FindClusters进行PCa单元聚类分析。使用UMAP方法对数据进行降维和可视化(图1A)。

图1.

图1

本研究的工作流程

Fig.1 Workflow of this study. Single-cell sequencing data were obtained from principal components analysis (A), followed by annotation and clustering of the data (B), resulting in the identification of two types of neutrophils: Neu_1 and Neu_2 (C). Tissue immunofluorescence verification, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, cell interaction studies, and counter-time sequence analysis of these two cell types were used to elucidate their roles within the tumor microenvironment (TME) (D). Combining our findings with data from the TCGA database, we identified 4 independent prognostic factors for constructing and validating the prognostic models (E, F). We performed an analysis of immunotherapy predictions by analyzing and scoring the proportion of immune cells within the TME (G, H). ***P<0.001, ****P<0.0001. The patients with high levels of infiltrating Neu_2 neutrophils are likely to have poor responses to immunotherapy, as indicated by TIDE analysis (I). THPA: The Human Protein Atlas; ESTIMATE: Estimation of stromal and immune cells in malignant tumor tissues using expression data; TIDE: Tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion.

1.2.3. 细胞类型鉴定和差异基因表达分析

细胞标志物通过筛选文献[14-16]和搜索CellMarker2.0数据库获得,细胞根据细胞标记注释为B细胞(CD19、CD79A、MS4A1),浆细胞(IGKC、IGHG1、MZB1、SDC1),T细胞(CD3D、CD3E、TRAC、CD8A),NK细胞(GNLY、NKG7),成纤维细胞和肌成纤维细胞(FGF7、ACTA2),肥大细胞(TPSAB1、TPSB2),内皮细胞(PTPRB、PECAM1),上皮细胞(KRT14、KRT5),肿瘤细胞(EPCAM、KRT19),中性粒细胞(CSF3R、S100A8、LYZ),巨噬细胞(CD14、CD68、CD163、CSF1R)(图1B、C)。

1.2.4. 功能富集分析

基于clusterProfiler包使用基因集富集分析(GSEA)、京都基因与基因组百科全书(KEGG)通路富集分析和基因本体论(GO)富集法鉴定中性粒细胞亚群的特定生物途径(GO功能和KEGG通路的基因集均来自GSEA数据库,图1D)。

1.2.5. 细胞间通讯分析

为探索中性粒细胞与其他细胞类型之间的潜在通讯,使用R包Cellchat分析了不同细胞之间的配体-受体相互作用(图1D)。

1.2.6. 伪时间轨迹分析

Monocle包用于分析中性粒细胞的伪时间轨迹。对于降维,使用了reduction_method=“DDRTree”且max_components=2函数“reduceDimension”。使用“plot_cell_trajectory”和“plot_genes_branched_heatmap”功能进行细胞分选、分支差异基因分析和可视化(图1D)。

1.2.7. 预后模型构建和验证

从scRNA-seq和TCGA数据集中筛选与PCa患者生化复发生存期相关的中性粒细胞(DEGs)。对DEGs进行单因素Cox回归分析,确定潜在的预后DEG(P<0.05)。采用多变量Cox回归法分析LASSO回归分析预测的可靠性因素,其基因筛选流程为:首先利用单变量Cox排除无预后信号的基因(P≥0.05),采用LASSO回归筛选出10个基因,通过glmnet包完成,并得到最佳λ的值(约为0.04),进一步通survival包基于多变量COX方法评估上述特征基因与PCa样本预后的显著性,最终得到4个预后显著相关的核心基因。根据预后特征确定的多基因风险评分将PCa患者分为高危组或低危组。通过ROC曲线的曲线下面积(AUC)值评价预后特征的预测能力。GSE70770数据集用于验证预后模型的预后价值。PCa中性粒细胞预后模型的构建和验证主要使用R包survival、rms和timeROC进行(图1E)。人类蛋白质图谱(THPA)数据库用于验证核心基因的在组织上的表达水平(图1F)。

1.2.8. 免疫细胞浸润分析

使用R包CIBERSORT确定PCa患者TCGA队列中22种免疫细胞类型的分布。同时调查了高危和低危人群中免疫细胞浸润的丰度,以及与免疫检查点相关的风险评分与基因表达之间的相关性(图1G~I)。

1.2.9. 免疫荧光染色

将PCa肿瘤组织标本包埋、冷冻、切片,然后转移至载玻片上。随后在室温下孵育一抗(CD66b,SAB,1∶1000;IFI30,Thermo Fisher,1∶1000;WTAP,SAB,1∶1000)过夜。随后与二抗(辣根酶标记山羊抗兔/鼠IgG,Servicebio,1∶3000)共同孵育。DAPI的水性封片剂对载玻片进行封片。采用共聚焦显微镜对组织切片进行观察和分析(图1D)。

1.2.10. Western blotting

于37 ℃和5% CO2的恒温细胞培养箱中培养22RV1、PC3、DU145、Lncap和Vcap细胞,利用RIPA缓冲液(含蛋白酶及磷酸酶抑制剂)对细胞全蛋白进行提取,并通过BCA法定量、SDS-PAGE电泳分离、转膜、5% BSA封闭,随后与一抗(TGFB1,1∶1000;GAPDH,1∶1000)在4 ℃下孵育过夜,随后与二抗(抗小鼠/兔,Servicebio,1∶3000)孵育、ECL超敏发光液(Beyotime)显影,使用红外成像系统(BioRad)捕获图像。采用Image J软件分析细胞中目的蛋白相对表达水平,实验至少重复3次。

1.2.11. 细胞转染和分组

对TGFB1表达量最高的PC3细胞进行沉默。实验分为TGFB1敲低对照组(ShNC)、敲低组(Sh1、Sh2)。按照Lipofectamine 3000说明书进行操作,将ShNC,Sh1和Sh2质粒转入PC3细胞。48 h提取蛋白,Western blotting检测敲低效果。采用Image J软件分析细胞中目的蛋白相对表达水平,实验至少重复3次。

1.2.12. 细胞划痕实验

将细胞接种到6孔板中培养,当细胞接近长满时,用枪头垂直划伤单层细胞伤口,换上新鲜的无血清培养基,在细胞培养箱中继续培养48 h后取出,在显微镜下拍照,ImageJ计算伤口愈合面积。

1.2.13. CCK-8实验

将细胞计数并均匀接种到96孔板中,2000/孔。分别在细胞培养箱中培养12、24、48、72、96、120 h,然后加入CCK-8试剂,在37 ℃培养箱中培养2.5 h后,使用酶标记物检测吸光度A 450 nm值。

1.2.14. 统计学分析

使用R4.2.2对数据进行统计学分析。采用联合Cox回归和LASSO回归构建PCa预后模型。应用Wilcoxon秩和检验来评估两组之间与连续变量的关联。采用Log rank检验检查两组之间生存曲线的差异。Kaplan-Meier曲线和ROC的AUC分别用于DGEs的生存分析和相关预后基因的诊断效用。以P<0.05为差异有统计学意义。

2. 结果

2.1. PCa肿瘤微环境免疫浸润特征

本研究纳入20份PCa单细胞样本(图2A),48 940个细胞聚类为15个亚群(图2B),经注释鉴定出12种细胞类型(图2C)。比较分析显示肿瘤组织中免疫细胞(如T细胞、中性粒细胞)浸润增多(图2D)。通过标志基因识别验证各细胞亚群特征(图2E),差异分析表明T细胞、中性粒细胞等5类细胞在肿瘤中显著上调,其中中性粒细胞浸润占比最高(图2F)。关键标志基因如中性粒细胞CXCL2、T细胞CCL5及巨噬细胞C1QC等通过热图展示(图2G)。

图2.

图2

PCa scRNA-Seq数据的集成和聚类

Fig.2 Integration and clustering of PCa scRNA-Seq data. A: t-SNE of 15 PCa samples. B: t-SNE of 15 cell clusters. C: Identification of 12 cell types by marker genes. D: Cell types exist in different samples. E: Dot plot showed the expression differences of various genes across the 12 cell types. F: Expression differences of 12 cell types between the control and tumor groups. G: Heat map showing expressions of the characteristic genes across different cell subpopulations.

进一步分析20例样本正常与肿瘤组织,显示肿瘤中中性粒细胞浸润更多(图3A、B)。经FindNeighbors鉴定将中性粒细胞分为Neu_1和Neu_2亚群(图3C)。两亚群基因表达差异显著,Neu_1高表达C15or48、WTAP(图3D、E)。GO富集表明Neu_2参与免疫调控,Neu_1关联凋亡与周期(图3F)。免疫荧光验证两亚群标记基因WTAP(Neu_1)和IFI30(Neu_2)的存在(图3G)。通路分析显示Neu_2富集免疫抑制信号(如SPI1、TGFB1),显著高于Neu_1(图3H~J)。

图3.

图3

中性粒细胞亚型的细胞图谱

Fig.3 Cell map of neutrophil subtypes. A: t-SNE of the 20 cell clusters. B: t-SNE of control group and tumor group. C: Neu_1 and Neu_2 neutrophils identified by marker genes. D: Heat map showing differential expressions of the marker genes between Neu_1 and Neu_2 neutrophils. E: Expressions of the marker genes as signatures of the two cell types. F: GO enrichment analysis of signaling pathways associated with Neu_1 and Neu_2 neutrophils. G: Immunofluorescent staining of the marker genes in a subset of neutrophils (CD66b), specifically WTAP in Neu_1 and IIFI30 in Neu_2, within prostate cancer (PCa) tissue. H: GO enrichment analysis chord diagram Neu_1 signaling pathways involved in neutrophils. I: GO enrichment analysis chord diagram Neu_2 signaling pathways involved in neutrophils. J: KEGG analysis of signaling pathways involved in Neu_1 and Neu_2 neutrophils.

2.2. PCa中性粒细胞亚群细胞间互作分析

通过Cellchat构建细胞间互作网络(图4A、B),揭示Neu_2中性粒细胞与NK细胞、巨噬细胞、T/B细胞的交互强度高于Neu_1(图4C、D)。配体-受体通路富集分析显示,Neu_2细胞亚群特异性富集MHC-II、MIF、CD99信号通路(图4E、F)。通过互作气泡图比较结果显示Neu_2通过LGALS9-HAVCR2与NK细胞及巨噬细胞的互作权重显著高于Neu_1,且MIF通路(如MIF-CD74+CD44/CXCR4)富集更为显著(图4G)。

图4.

图4

与中性粒细胞相关的细胞间通讯分析

Fig.4 Analysis of intercellular communication related to neutrophils. A: Number of interactions in the intercellular communication network. B: Interaction weights/strengths in intercellular communication networks. C: Neu_1 interaction between neutrophils and other cells. D: Neu_2 interaction between neutrophils and other cells. E: Number and intensity of interactions between Neu_1 neutrophils and different cell types. F: Number and intensity of interactions between Neu_2 neutrophils and different cell types. G: Bubble diagram of ligand-receptor pair-mediated interactions between Neu_1 cells and Neu_2 neutrophils and other cells.

2.3. PCa中性粒细胞亚群的轨迹分析

拟时序分析表明,Neu_1为中性粒细胞分化早期阶段,Neu_2为终末阶段(图5A),且Neu_1可向Neu_2分化(图5B)。Neu_2进一步分化为stat2和stat3两个亚群(图5C、D),随分化进程逐渐占据主导(图5E、F)。基因表达热图显示,Cluster1(stat2相关)基因富集于凋亡、蛋白折叠及IL-10信号通路,Cluster2(stat3相关)基因参与细胞因子产生、免疫调节及VEGFA通路(图5G)。Neu_1(stat1)基因则调控细胞生长与程序性死亡。分化过程中,Neu_2上调免疫调控基因(IL6、STAT3、CFBPD、TGFB1,图5H)。

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2.4. Neu_2中性粒细胞亚群特征相关预后模型的构建和验证

通过LASSO-Cox回归筛选出4个独立预后基因(CBX3、ITM2B、TGFB1、EMD,图6A~C)。基于这些基因表达构建风险模型,高危组患者在训练集(TCGA)和验证集(GSE70770)中总生存期缩短(P<0.05,图6D~I);ROC曲线显示ROC曲线显示训练集1、3和5年的AUC分别为0.71、0.79和0.79,而测试集1、3、5年的AUC分别为0.61、0.62、0.69(图6F、J)。THPA数据库中的免疫组化验证高危组肿瘤组织中4个基因表达上调(图6K)。Western blotting证实转移性PCa细胞(PC3、DU145、Lncap和Vcap)TGFB1蛋白表达高于非转移组(22RV1)(图6L)。功能实验显示敲低TGFB1抑制PC3细胞增值与迁移能力(图6M~O)。

图6.

图6

中性粒细胞预后风险模型的构建和验证

Fig.6 Construction and validation of a neutrophil prognostic risk model. A, B: Screening of prognostic-related core genes by lasso-cox regression in TCGA training group. C, G: Forest diagram in TCGA training group and GSE70770 validation set. D, H: Kaplan-Meier curve for overall survival between different ICPI risk groups in TCGA training group and GSE70770 validation set. E, I: Validation of centralized risk scores and expression heat maps of 4 genes in TCGA training group and GSE70770 validation set. F, J: Time-dependent ROC curve analysis in TCGA training group and GSE70770 validation set. K: Verification of expressions of the 4 key genes in PCa tissues by immunohistochemical staining from THPA database.

2.5. 免疫治疗预测分析

基于Neu_2基因特征构建的风险模型与PCa免疫微环境显著关联。TCGA-CIBERSORT分析显示,高危组富集免疫抑制性M2巨噬细胞及Tregs,低危组以幼稚T细胞、静息CD4+ T细胞和浆细胞为主(图7A~C)。Estimate评分证实高危组免疫/基质评分升高,肿瘤纯度降低(图7D)。TIDE分析显示高危组TIDE及Exclusion评分升高,免疫治疗应答率低且易逃逸(图7E~G)。

图7.

图7

中性粒细胞风险预后模型与PCa免疫浸润及免疫应答的相关性

Fig.7 Correlation between neutrophil risk prognostic model and immune infiltration as well as immune response in PCa. A: Calculation of 22 immune cell infiltration ratios in PCa tissues based on CIBERSORT. B: Correlation analysis between immune cells in PCa tissues. C: Differences in immune cell infiltration expression between high-risk and low-risk groups. D: Differences in immune scores and infiltration ratios of some immune cells (plasma cells, Tregs cells, and M2-TAMs cells) between high-risk and low-risk groups. E, F: Correlation analysis between TIDE score expression and risk score. G: Differences in microsatellite instability, immune dysfunction and immune rejection scores between high-risk and low-risk groups. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, ****P<0.0001.

3. 讨论

癌症进展与TME的免疫抑制状态密切相关,既往研究多聚焦于缺氧及氧化应激对TME的调控癌症的发展1718。但对中性粒细胞亚群在PCa中的动态作用缺乏系统性解析。因此,本研究通过整合单细胞多组学与预后建模阐明PCa中Neu_2中性粒细胞亚群的核心作用并且其在TME中的调控机制,以及构建PCa中性粒细胞相关预后风险模型。不同于既往研究仅关注中性粒细胞整体促癌作用19-21,本研究首次通过scRNA-seq将PCa中性粒细胞分为Neu_1与Neu_2亚型。细胞间通讯分析结果表明,Neu_2中性粒细胞与其他细胞亚型之间存在着直接而显著的交互关系,MIF信号通路和HAVCR2受体的激活主要介导Neu_2中性粒细胞与其他细胞之间的通讯,此前文献报道MIF可调控HIF-1α影响TME,但多集中于巨噬细胞或T细胞的作用2223,本研究则首次揭示Neu_2通过MIF与NK细胞、T细胞形成协同抑制网络,为靶向MIF通路提供了新的细胞靶点;Neu_2型中性粒细胞能够通过MIF信号通路与HAVCR2受体的激活来分泌某些细胞因子(如TGF-β和IL-10)从而抑制T细和巨噬细胞等免疫细胞的活性和功能24,从而抑制机体对肿瘤的免疫反应,促进肿瘤的进展。同时,Neu_2型中性粒细胞通过MIF调控HIF-1α,从而能上调PCa中的PD-L1的表达25,进一步促进免疫抑制;然后为了理解中性粒亚型之间的状态转换,对中性粒细胞伪时间轨迹的分析表明,随发育时间变化的基因分为3个簇,分别与免疫反应、细胞因子信号转导和细胞活化和凋亡有关。此外,富集分析结果显示,从4个标志基因(IL6、STAT3、CFBPD和TGFB1)的动态表达可以看出在Neu_1向Neu_2发展的过程中,它们在分化成熟的Neu_2细胞亚群中均显著上调,这提示Neu_2中性粒细胞可能与患者的不良预后密切相关。而TGFB1、CBX3等基因虽在PCa中高表达已有报道2627,但其与中性粒细胞亚群功能关联及动态表达模式(伪时序分析)尚未被阐明,本研究为理解TGFB信号在TME中的细胞特异性调控机制提供了新视角。

TME在癌症进展中起着重要作用,免疫治疗则需要更好地了解TME中的各个免疫细胞的浸润情况,以便于更好地推进治疗28。本研究揭示了PCa的TME中Neu_2型中性粒细胞通过MIF信号通路介导免疫抑制的新机制。相较于既往聚焦于Treg、MDSCs等经典免疫抑制细胞的研究29,本研究证实了中性粒细胞亚群在PCa免疫逃逸中的枢纽作用。通过组织标本验证发现PCa组织中确实存在着Neu_1和Neu_2亚型中性粒细胞的浸润。Neu_2亚型与TIDE分析提示的免疫治疗抵抗表型高度相关,这一发现突破了传统以CD8+T细胞浸润程度评估免疫治疗应答的范式30,为免疫治疗疗效预测提供了新维度。同时本研究发现Neu_2型中性粒细胞通过HAVCR2受体激活,形成了跨NK细胞、T/B淋巴细胞及巨噬细胞的立体调控网络。这种多细胞协同抑制机制,开阔了既往研究多关注单一免疫细胞相互作用的视野。伪时序分析揭示的Neu_2发育轨迹,较之黑色素瘤中报道的TME动态演化规律29,展现出PCa特异性分化特征,提示器官特异性微环境塑造机制。本研究构建的Neu_2浸润风险模型显示出更高临床适用性,TIDE分析证实了高浸润组免疫治疗抵抗现象。本研究进一步建立了中性粒细胞亚型与免疫检查点抑制剂应答的关联,这为精准筛选免疫治疗获益人群提供了新型生物标志物。

本研究虽通过多组学数据揭示中性粒细胞亚群作用,但仍需前瞻性临床队列验证模型效能,并利用类器官共培养等实验明确Neu_2与肿瘤细胞的直接互作机制。未来可结合空间转录组技术,解析中性粒细胞亚群在肿瘤-间质界面的空间分布特征,为精准干预提供依据。

综上所述,本研究基于scRNA-seq和转录组学探讨了PCa的中性粒细胞谱和TME,并揭示了关键的潜在预后基因。本研究首先阐明了PCa中中性粒细胞在功能富集、细胞分化轨迹和细胞间通讯方面的异质性;此外,构建的中性粒细胞相关预后风险模型被证明具有准确的独立预后价值。本研究不仅扩展了对PCa相关中性粒细胞的理解,而且还提供了PCa的TME特征和新的治疗靶点。scRNA-seq和转录组学的联合分析将亦有助于推进PCa精准免疫疗法的发展。

基金资助

国家自然科学基金(81772257,81602248)

Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81772257, 81602248).

利益冲突声明

The authors declare no competinginterests.。

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