Predicting mechanism of immune response in microsatellite instability colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as colon cancer, is the third most common cancer and the fourth most cause of cancer-related death in the world. CRC can be classified into two major subtypes, including microsatellite instability (MSI) and microsatellite stability (MSS), which showed different ch...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Peng Sun, Yusong Luan, Xuhao Cai, Qi Liu, Peide Ren, Pengpan Xin, Yonggang Yu, Bolun Song, Yangyang Wang, Huijing Chang, Haoyue Ma, Yinggang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-03-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024041513
_version_ 1797224158051958784
author Peng Sun
Yusong Luan
Xuhao Cai
Qi Liu
Peide Ren
Pengpan Xin
Yonggang Yu
Bolun Song
Yangyang Wang
Huijing Chang
Haoyue Ma
Yinggang Chen
author_facet Peng Sun
Yusong Luan
Xuhao Cai
Qi Liu
Peide Ren
Pengpan Xin
Yonggang Yu
Bolun Song
Yangyang Wang
Huijing Chang
Haoyue Ma
Yinggang Chen
author_sort Peng Sun
collection DOAJ
description Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as colon cancer, is the third most common cancer and the fourth most cause of cancer-related death in the world. CRC can be classified into two major subtypes, including microsatellite instability (MSI) and microsatellite stability (MSS), which showed different characteristics in immunotherapy. Low sensitivity of diagnostic biomarkers and metastasis are still the principal cause of mortality, especially in MSI. Here, applying computational programs, we identified recurring expression programs based on single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) data of CRC cell lines. Notably, three MSI specific recurring modules were identified by non-negative matrix factorization (NMF). High NMF score genes enriched in the function of metabolism and inflammatory response. Focusing on top specific active transcription factor (TF), RUNX3 (Runt-related transcription factor 3), our results suggest that T cell infiltration was increased in RUNX3 high MSI CRC samples. Unbiased Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that RUNX3 was strongly associated with immune and metastasis related functions, such as Interferon Gamma (IFN-γ) and EPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION (EMT). In addition, RUNX3 shows specific highly activated at epigenetic level in MSI compared with other gastrointestinal carcinomas. Positive correlation between RUNX3 and most immune checkpoints further confirmed RUNX3 might have crucial roles in MSI cancer progression and immunotherapy. Taken together, these results indicate significant tumor heterogeneity of two CRC subtypes at single-cell level and epigenetic modification level. These results also linked transcriptional dysregulation with immune infiltration at single-cell level in MSI, which may advance the application of scRNA-Seq technology in immunotherapy and contribute to developing novel biomarkers of this malignancy.
first_indexed 2024-04-24T13:48:40Z
format Article
id doaj.art-cda8ecfee7aa42778dc04d4845822ffb
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2405-8440
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T13:48:40Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Heliyon
spelling doaj.art-cda8ecfee7aa42778dc04d4845822ffb2024-04-04T05:06:52ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-03-01106e28120Predicting mechanism of immune response in microsatellite instability colorectal cancerPeng Sun0Yusong Luan1Xuhao Cai2Qi Liu3Peide Ren4Pengpan Xin5Yonggang Yu6Bolun Song7Yangyang Wang8Huijing Chang9Haoyue Ma10Yinggang Chen11Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaCorresponding author.; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, ChinaColorectal cancer (CRC), also known as colon cancer, is the third most common cancer and the fourth most cause of cancer-related death in the world. CRC can be classified into two major subtypes, including microsatellite instability (MSI) and microsatellite stability (MSS), which showed different characteristics in immunotherapy. Low sensitivity of diagnostic biomarkers and metastasis are still the principal cause of mortality, especially in MSI. Here, applying computational programs, we identified recurring expression programs based on single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) data of CRC cell lines. Notably, three MSI specific recurring modules were identified by non-negative matrix factorization (NMF). High NMF score genes enriched in the function of metabolism and inflammatory response. Focusing on top specific active transcription factor (TF), RUNX3 (Runt-related transcription factor 3), our results suggest that T cell infiltration was increased in RUNX3 high MSI CRC samples. Unbiased Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that RUNX3 was strongly associated with immune and metastasis related functions, such as Interferon Gamma (IFN-γ) and EPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION (EMT). In addition, RUNX3 shows specific highly activated at epigenetic level in MSI compared with other gastrointestinal carcinomas. Positive correlation between RUNX3 and most immune checkpoints further confirmed RUNX3 might have crucial roles in MSI cancer progression and immunotherapy. Taken together, these results indicate significant tumor heterogeneity of two CRC subtypes at single-cell level and epigenetic modification level. These results also linked transcriptional dysregulation with immune infiltration at single-cell level in MSI, which may advance the application of scRNA-Seq technology in immunotherapy and contribute to developing novel biomarkers of this malignancy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024041513Colorectal cancerMicrosatellite instabilitySingle cell RNA-SeqRUNX3Immune infiltrationEPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION
spellingShingle Peng Sun
Yusong Luan
Xuhao Cai
Qi Liu
Peide Ren
Pengpan Xin
Yonggang Yu
Bolun Song
Yangyang Wang
Huijing Chang
Haoyue Ma
Yinggang Chen
Predicting mechanism of immune response in microsatellite instability colorectal cancer
Heliyon
Colorectal cancer
Microsatellite instability
Single cell RNA-Seq
RUNX3
Immune infiltration
EPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION
title Predicting mechanism of immune response in microsatellite instability colorectal cancer
title_full Predicting mechanism of immune response in microsatellite instability colorectal cancer
title_fullStr Predicting mechanism of immune response in microsatellite instability colorectal cancer
title_full_unstemmed Predicting mechanism of immune response in microsatellite instability colorectal cancer
title_short Predicting mechanism of immune response in microsatellite instability colorectal cancer
title_sort predicting mechanism of immune response in microsatellite instability colorectal cancer
topic Colorectal cancer
Microsatellite instability
Single cell RNA-Seq
RUNX3
Immune infiltration
EPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024041513
work_keys_str_mv AT pengsun predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT yusongluan predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT xuhaocai predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT qiliu predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT peideren predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT pengpanxin predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT yonggangyu predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT bolunsong predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT yangyangwang predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT huijingchang predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT haoyuema predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer
AT yinggangchen predictingmechanismofimmuneresponseinmicrosatelliteinstabilitycolorectalcancer