Neutrophils physically interact with cancer cells in breast cancer

We performed RNA-sequencing of single cells and physically interacting cells (PIC-seq) along murine mammary gland development and carcinogenesis. We uncovered that neutrophils appear transiently during early development, re-emerge in physical interactions with tumor cells from neoplasia and are further expanded in advanced carcinoma. Investigation of neutrophil heterogeneity revealed seven transcriptional states linked to age and cancer stage. We also identified a molecular program upregulated by the physical interaction between neutrophils and tumor cells, promoting angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis.

我们针对小鼠乳腺发育与癌变进程，开展了单细胞与物理相互作用细胞的RNA测序（RNA-sequencing），其中针对物理相互作用细胞的测序方法为物理相互作用细胞测序（physically interacting cells sequencing, PIC-seq）。本研究发现，中性粒细胞在发育早期短暂出现，于瘤变阶段重新与肿瘤细胞形成物理相互作用，并在进展期癌中进一步扩增。对中性粒细胞异质性的分析揭示了7种与年龄及癌症分期相关的转录状态。此外，本研究还鉴定出一种由中性粒细胞与肿瘤细胞物理相互作用所上调的分子调控程序，该程序可促进血管生成、肿瘤侵袭与转移。