Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40377484›Full record

ArticleHepatology communications2025

Single-cell analyses unravel ecosystem dynamics and intercellular crosstalk during gallbladder cancer malignant transformation.

Zhaobin He, Jianqiang Cao, Xiqiang Wang, Shengbiao Yang, Huijie Gao, Yongzhe Yu, Zequn Di, Cheng Peng

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Hepatology communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Zhaobin HeDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0917-0570
Jianqiang CaoDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
Xiqiang WangDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
Shengbiao YangDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
Huijie GaoDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
Yongzhe YuDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
Zequn DiDepartment of Hepatobiliary Minimally Invasive Surgery, Shandong University Institute of Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Surgery, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
Cheng PengDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1217-9645

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare but aggressive malignancy, often detected late due to early asymptomatic stages. Understanding cellular and molecular changes from normal tissue to high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) and invasive GBC is vital for identifying early biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

methodsWe performed single-cell RNA sequencing on 98,113 cells derived from 2 normal adjacent tissues (NAT), 2 HGIN, and 6 GBC samples. The cellular diversity and heterogeneity, particularly within epithelial and immune cell populations in NAT-HGIN-GBC, were investigated utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq), and 10 machine learning methodologies. Furthermore, the intercellular crosstalk between epithelial cells and tumor immune microenvironment cells was examined and validated through multiplex immunofluorescence staining.

resultsThe constructed cell atlas elucidated alterations in the immune landscape across various states of NAT-HGIN-GBC, highlighting a more pronounced inhibitory immune microenvironment in GBC. The epithelial subtype TOP2A+ Epi is markedly elevated in GBC and is correlated with a poor prognosis. Key genes associated with this subtype may include GMNN, CYTOR, KLK6, and BIRC5. Similarly, immunosuppressive macrophages, identified as TOP2A+ Macro, also increase along the NAT-HGIN-GBC sequence and are linked to reduced patient survival. Furthermore, TOP2A+ Macro and CD8+ exhausted T cells (CD8+ Tex) engage in intercellular communication with epithelial TOP2A+Epi cells via the TWEAK/FN14 signaling pathway, thereby promoting tumor progression and immune evasion in GBC. The findings were further corroborated through multiplex immunofluorescence staining conducted on specimens from patients.

conclusionsThis study elucidates significant alteration in the cellular ecosystems and intercellular signaling within the tumor immune microenvironment across the NAT-HGIN-GBC sequence. It identifies TOP2A, TWEAK, and FN14 as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for GBC.

Indexed as

Carcinoma in SituCell Transformation, NeoplasticGallbladder NeoplasmsTumor MicroenvironmentCell CommunicationEpithelial CellsFemaleHumansMalePrognosisSingle-Cell Analysisintercellular communicationsingle-cell RNA sequencingTOP2Atumor immune microenvironmentTWEAK/FN14 signaling

Identifiers

PMID40377484
PMCPMC12088638

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.