Multi-omics analyses reveal interactions between GREM1+ fibroblasts and SPP1+ macrophages in gastric cancer

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most lethal human malignancies with limited treatment options. Cell-cell interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) can promote tumor growth, yet their therapeutic value has not been fully explored. Here, bulk RNA-seq, single-cell RNA sequencing (s...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lupeng Qiu, Xiao Zhao, Sheng Yao, Yang Fei, Yixin Gong, Zishan Zhou, Shunchang Jiao, Jianming Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:npj Precision Oncology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-025-00967-w
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Summary:Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most lethal human malignancies with limited treatment options. Cell-cell interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) can promote tumor growth, yet their therapeutic value has not been fully explored. Here, bulk RNA-seq, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and spatial transcriptomics (ST) were integrated to analyze the heterogeneity of GC microenvironment. Tumor-specific GREM1+ fibroblasts and SPP1+ macrophages were significantly enriched in GC tissues and were involved in immunosuppression, inflammation regulation, and tumor progression. We then indicated that GREM1+ fibroblasts and SPP1+ macrophages were positively correlated in 12 independent GC datasets and validated their close localization by multiplex immunohistochemistry staining and spatial transcriptomics. Patients with both high GREM1+ fibroblasts and SPP1+ macrophages exhibited significantly shorter OS and showed enrichment of tumor-associated pathways. Our results demonstrated the complex interactions between GREM1+ fibroblasts and SPP1+ macrophages, which may serve as a potential therapeutic target for future treatment of GC.
ISSN:2397-768X