Single-cell multiomics reveals simvastatin inhibits pan-cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the MEK/ERK pathway in XBP1+ mast cells

Abstract Distant metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and achieving survival benefits through advancements in systemic therapy remains challenging. Mast cells play a dual role in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME) and influencing distant metastasis, underscoring the sig...

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Main Authors: Sen Lin, Huimin Zhang, Ruiqi Zhao, Zhulin Wu, Weiqing Zhang, Mengjiao Yu, Bei Zhang, Lanyue Ma, Danfei Li, Lisheng Peng, Weijun Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80858-5
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author Sen Lin
Huimin Zhang
Ruiqi Zhao
Zhulin Wu
Weiqing Zhang
Mengjiao Yu
Bei Zhang
Lanyue Ma
Danfei Li
Lisheng Peng
Weijun Luo
author_facet Sen Lin
Huimin Zhang
Ruiqi Zhao
Zhulin Wu
Weiqing Zhang
Mengjiao Yu
Bei Zhang
Lanyue Ma
Danfei Li
Lisheng Peng
Weijun Luo
author_sort Sen Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Distant metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and achieving survival benefits through advancements in systemic therapy remains challenging. Mast cells play a dual role in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME) and influencing distant metastasis, underscoring the significant research value of targeting mast cells for systemic therapy in advanced cancer. We investigated variations in mast cell infiltration levels in primary and metastatic malignancies using immunocyte infiltration analysis. Mast cell subsets were identified from pan-cancer distant metastasis single-cell sequencing data through dimensionality reduction clustering and cell type annotation, combined with cell trajectory and communication network analyses. A prognostic model was established using WGCNA and 12 machine learning algorithms to identify potential mast cell targets. Drug sensitivity and Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted to select potential drugs targeting mast cells, and their effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were validated through in vitro experiments, including wound healing, transwell, and western blot assays. Results revealed that activated mast cells show increased infiltration in metastatic tumors, correlating with poor survival duration. XBP1+ mast cells were identified as key components of the inhibitory TME, potentially involved in EMT activation. Simvastatin was identified as a potential drug, reversing EMT induced by XBP1+ mast cells in pan-cancer. Aberrant activation of MEK/ERK signaling in XBP1+ mast cells can stimulate cancer cell EMT by modulating degranulation, while Simvastatin can inhibit EMT by suppressing degranulation.
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spelling doaj-art-349504a4f65e463fb56b1dba0ee91d872025-08-20T02:49:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-80858-5Single-cell multiomics reveals simvastatin inhibits pan-cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the MEK/ERK pathway in XBP1+ mast cellsSen Lin0Huimin Zhang1Ruiqi Zhao2Zhulin Wu3Weiqing Zhang4Mengjiao Yu5Bei Zhang6Lanyue Ma7Danfei Li8Lisheng Peng9Weijun Luo10The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineThe First Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineThe Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People’s Hospital of LonghuaDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People’s Hospital of LonghuaThe Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineThe Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineThe Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineThe Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Hepatology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine HospitalDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People’s Hospital of LonghuaAbstract Distant metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, and achieving survival benefits through advancements in systemic therapy remains challenging. Mast cells play a dual role in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME) and influencing distant metastasis, underscoring the significant research value of targeting mast cells for systemic therapy in advanced cancer. We investigated variations in mast cell infiltration levels in primary and metastatic malignancies using immunocyte infiltration analysis. Mast cell subsets were identified from pan-cancer distant metastasis single-cell sequencing data through dimensionality reduction clustering and cell type annotation, combined with cell trajectory and communication network analyses. A prognostic model was established using WGCNA and 12 machine learning algorithms to identify potential mast cell targets. Drug sensitivity and Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted to select potential drugs targeting mast cells, and their effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were validated through in vitro experiments, including wound healing, transwell, and western blot assays. Results revealed that activated mast cells show increased infiltration in metastatic tumors, correlating with poor survival duration. XBP1+ mast cells were identified as key components of the inhibitory TME, potentially involved in EMT activation. Simvastatin was identified as a potential drug, reversing EMT induced by XBP1+ mast cells in pan-cancer. Aberrant activation of MEK/ERK signaling in XBP1+ mast cells can stimulate cancer cell EMT by modulating degranulation, while Simvastatin can inhibit EMT by suppressing degranulation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80858-5Pan-cancerDistant metastasisMast cellsHMG-CoA reductase inhibitorsMulti-omics
spellingShingle Sen Lin
Huimin Zhang
Ruiqi Zhao
Zhulin Wu
Weiqing Zhang
Mengjiao Yu
Bei Zhang
Lanyue Ma
Danfei Li
Lisheng Peng
Weijun Luo
Single-cell multiomics reveals simvastatin inhibits pan-cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the MEK/ERK pathway in XBP1+ mast cells
Scientific Reports
Pan-cancer
Distant metastasis
Mast cells
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
Multi-omics
title Single-cell multiomics reveals simvastatin inhibits pan-cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the MEK/ERK pathway in XBP1+ mast cells
title_full Single-cell multiomics reveals simvastatin inhibits pan-cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the MEK/ERK pathway in XBP1+ mast cells
title_fullStr Single-cell multiomics reveals simvastatin inhibits pan-cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the MEK/ERK pathway in XBP1+ mast cells
title_full_unstemmed Single-cell multiomics reveals simvastatin inhibits pan-cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the MEK/ERK pathway in XBP1+ mast cells
title_short Single-cell multiomics reveals simvastatin inhibits pan-cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the MEK/ERK pathway in XBP1+ mast cells
title_sort single cell multiomics reveals simvastatin inhibits pan cancer epithelial mesenchymal transition via the mek erk pathway in xbp1 mast cells
topic Pan-cancer
Distant metastasis
Mast cells
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
Multi-omics
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80858-5
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