Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics reveal cancer-associated fibroblasts in glioblastoma with protumoral effects

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were presumed absent in glioblastoma given the lack of brain fibroblasts. Serial trypsinization of glioblastoma specimens yielded cells with CAF morphology and single-cell transcriptomic profiles based on their lack of copy number variations (CNVs) and elevated individual cell CAF probability scores derived from the expression of 9 CAF markers and absence of 5 markers from non-CAF stromal cells sharing features with CAFs. Cells without CNVs and with high CAF probability scores were identified in single-cell RNA-Seq of 12 patient glioblastomas. Pseudotime reconstruction revealed that immature CAFs evolved into subtypes, with mature CAFs expressing actin alpha 2, smooth…

• UO
  University of California, San Francisco
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Award: 1R01CA260443
• NI
  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

  Award: 2R01NS079697