Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41238039›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced research2026

SPINK1-driven cellular heterogeneity and interaction networks in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma revealed by integrated multi-omics analysis.

Xiaoxiang Rong, Jiayun Guan, Chanqi Ye, Qiong Li, Mingyu Wan, Wenguang Fu, Jinzhang Chen, Dayong Zheng, Ruyin Chen, Rui Zhou and 3 more

Abstract read
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Article in Journal of advanced research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Xiaoxiang RongDepartment of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Jiayun GuanDepartment of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Chanqi YeDepartment of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Qiong LiDepartment of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Mingyu WanDepartment of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Wenguang FuDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China.
Jinzhang ChenDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Liver Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Dayong ZhengDepartment of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China.
Ruyin ChenDepartment of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Rui ZhouDepartment of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. Electronic address: zhourui@smu.edu.cn.
Gautam SethiDepartment of Pharmacology and NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117600, Singapore. Electronic address: phcgs@nus.edu.sg.
Yunlu JiaDepartment of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China. Electronic address: jiayunlu@zju.edu.cn.
Jian RuanDepartment of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; Department of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China. Electronic address: software233@zju.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly heterogeneous and aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. The lack of precise molecular classification and incomplete understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) impede therapeutic development.

objectivesThis study aims to dissect the cellular heterogeneity and intercellular interactions in ICC, with a particular focus on SPINK1-overexpressing epithelial subsets. We sought to determine the role of SPINK1 in modulating immune cell recruitment and tumor metabolism, and to evaluate its clinical relevance.

methodsWe performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on human ICC tumors and adjacent normal tissues to construct a transcriptomic atlas. Integrative proteomic analysis, transwell assays, co-culture systems, and functional perturbation experiments (SPINK1 knockdown and ASCT2 inhibition) were conducted to explore epithelial-macrophage interactions and metabolic dynamics.

resultsScRNA-seq identified a SPINK1-overexpressing epithelial subcluster enriched in ICC tumors. High SPINK1 expression correlated with significantly shorter patient survival. SPINK1-overexpressing epithelial subcluster secretes CCL20, which recruits lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs). This effect was reversed by CCL20 neutralizing antibodies. In co-culture, LAMs increased intracellular glutamine levels in SPINK1-overexpressing epithelial subcluster, promoting proliferation. Disruption of SPINK1 expression or glutamine transport abolished this metabolic support.

conclusionOur findings uncover a novel SPINK1-CCL20-LAMs axis that orchestrates immune recruitment and metabolic reprogramming in ICC. SPINK1 facilitates tumor growth by establishing a glutamine-rich microenvironment via LAMs. These insights highlight SPINK1 as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker in ICC.

Indexed as

Bile Duct NeoplasmsCholangiocarcinomaTrypsin Inhibitor, Kazal PancreaticCell Line, TumorGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMultiomicsProteomicsTumor MicroenvironmentSPINK1 protein, humanTrypsin Inhibitor, Kazal PancreaticImmunosuppressionIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinomaMetabolic reprogrammingSPINK1Tumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41238039
PMCPMC13453628

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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.