Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to characterize the heterogeneity of glycan-lipid metabolism polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is high heterogeneity and remains an unmet medical challenge, but their metabolic heterogeneity has not been fully uncovered and required clinical applicable translational strategies. Methods By analyzing the RNA sequencing data in the in-house coho...

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Main Authors: Peng Lin, Qiong Qin, Xiang-yu Gan, Jin-shu Pang, Rong Wen, Yun He, Hong Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Translational Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06347-z
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author Peng Lin
Qiong Qin
Xiang-yu Gan
Jin-shu Pang
Rong Wen
Yun He
Hong Yang
author_facet Peng Lin
Qiong Qin
Xiang-yu Gan
Jin-shu Pang
Rong Wen
Yun He
Hong Yang
author_sort Peng Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is high heterogeneity and remains an unmet medical challenge, but their metabolic heterogeneity has not been fully uncovered and required clinical applicable translational strategies. Methods By analyzing the RNA sequencing data in the in-house cohort and public HCC cohorts, we identified a metabolic subtype of HCC associated with multi-omics features and prognosis. Multi-omics alterations and clinicopathological information between different subtypes were analyzed. Gene signature, radiomics, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), serum biomarkers were tested as potential surrogate methods for high throughput technology-based subtyping. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses were employed to evaluate the immune characteristics changes between subtypes. Results By utilizing metabolic-related pathways, we identified two heterogeneous metabolic HCC subtypes, glycan-HCC and lipid-HCC, with distinct multi-omics features and prognosis. Kaplan–Meier and restricted mean survival time analyses revealed worse overall survival in glycan-HCCs. And glycan-HCCs were characterized with high genomic instability, proliferation-related pathways activation and exhausted immune microenvironment. Furthermore, we developed gene signatures, radiomics, CEUS and serum biomarkers for subtypes determination, which showed substantial agreement with high-throughput-based classification. Single-cell RNA-seq showed glycan-HCCs were associated with multifaceted immune distortion, including exhaustion of T cells and enriched SPP1 + macrophages. Conclusion Collectively, our analysis demonstrated the metabolic heterogeneity of HCCs and enabled the development of clinical translation strategies, thus promoting understanding and clinical applications about HCC metabolism heterogeneity.
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spelling doaj-art-3c6c8fc7145e4fe8a45538486fa2d9a42025-08-20T02:41:33ZengBMCJournal of Translational Medicine1479-58762025-03-0123111810.1186/s12967-025-06347-zIntegrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to characterize the heterogeneity of glycan-lipid metabolism polarization in hepatocellular carcinomaPeng Lin0Qiong Qin1Xiang-yu Gan2Jin-shu Pang3Rong Wen4Yun He5Hong Yang6Department of Medical Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityAbstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is high heterogeneity and remains an unmet medical challenge, but their metabolic heterogeneity has not been fully uncovered and required clinical applicable translational strategies. Methods By analyzing the RNA sequencing data in the in-house cohort and public HCC cohorts, we identified a metabolic subtype of HCC associated with multi-omics features and prognosis. Multi-omics alterations and clinicopathological information between different subtypes were analyzed. Gene signature, radiomics, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), serum biomarkers were tested as potential surrogate methods for high throughput technology-based subtyping. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses were employed to evaluate the immune characteristics changes between subtypes. Results By utilizing metabolic-related pathways, we identified two heterogeneous metabolic HCC subtypes, glycan-HCC and lipid-HCC, with distinct multi-omics features and prognosis. Kaplan–Meier and restricted mean survival time analyses revealed worse overall survival in glycan-HCCs. And glycan-HCCs were characterized with high genomic instability, proliferation-related pathways activation and exhausted immune microenvironment. Furthermore, we developed gene signatures, radiomics, CEUS and serum biomarkers for subtypes determination, which showed substantial agreement with high-throughput-based classification. Single-cell RNA-seq showed glycan-HCCs were associated with multifaceted immune distortion, including exhaustion of T cells and enriched SPP1 + macrophages. Conclusion Collectively, our analysis demonstrated the metabolic heterogeneity of HCCs and enabled the development of clinical translation strategies, thus promoting understanding and clinical applications about HCC metabolism heterogeneity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06347-zHepatocellular carcinomaMetabolic heterogeneityMulti-omicsTranslational medicine
spellingShingle Peng Lin
Qiong Qin
Xiang-yu Gan
Jin-shu Pang
Rong Wen
Yun He
Hong Yang
Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to characterize the heterogeneity of glycan-lipid metabolism polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma
Journal of Translational Medicine
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Metabolic heterogeneity
Multi-omics
Translational medicine
title Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to characterize the heterogeneity of glycan-lipid metabolism polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to characterize the heterogeneity of glycan-lipid metabolism polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_fullStr Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to characterize the heterogeneity of glycan-lipid metabolism polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to characterize the heterogeneity of glycan-lipid metabolism polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_short Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data to characterize the heterogeneity of glycan-lipid metabolism polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma
title_sort integrating single cell and bulk rna sequencing data to characterize the heterogeneity of glycan lipid metabolism polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma
topic Hepatocellular carcinoma
Metabolic heterogeneity
Multi-omics
Translational medicine
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06347-z
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