Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric cancer (GC) ranks among the prevalent types of cancer, and its progression is influenced by the tumor microenvironment (TME). A comprehensive comprehension of the TME associated with GC has the potential to unveil therapeutic targets of significance. METHODS: The complexity and heterogeneity of TME interactions were revealed through our investigation using an integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk-tissue sequencing data. RESULTS: We constructed a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of 150,913 cells isolated from GC patients. Our analysis revealed the intricate nature and heterogeneity of the GC TME and the metabolic properties of major cell types. Furthermore, two cell subtypes, LOX(+) Fibroblasts and M2 Macrophages, were enriched in tumor tissue and related to the outcome of GC patients. In addition, LOX(+) Fibroblasts were significantly associated with M2 macrophages. immunofluorescence double labeling indicated LOX(+) Fibroblasts and M2 Macrophages were tightly localized in GC tissue. The two cell subpopulations strongly interacted in a hypoxic microenvironment, yielding an immunosuppressive phenotype. Our findings further suggest that LOX(+) Fibroblasts may act as a trigger for inducing the differentiation of monocytes into M2 Macrophages via the IL6-IL6R signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed the intricate and interdependent communication network between the fibroblast and macrophage subpopulations, which could offer valuable insights for targeted manipulation of the tumor microenvironment.