Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals key signaling pathways and biological functions in giant cell tumors of bone.

BACKGROUND

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) represents a group of tumors that characterized by their heterogeneity and the presence of multiple cell types. It is essential to understand their molecular mechanisms for better designing therapeutic approaches.

METHODS

We applied single cell RNA-sequencing technology to investigate differentiation process during GCTBs formation. DAVID was used to perform a pathway enrichment and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses on signaling pathways and biological functions. Cell-cell interactions and signaling networks are depicted with network diagrams and usages of heatmaps.

RESULTS

The analysis identified numerous significant pathways, including Pathways in Parkinson's disease, Prion diseases and COVID-19. ViBe identified a wide range of biological process, cellular component and molecular function associated with tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we validate that the SPP1 signaling pathway is essential for cell-cell crosstalk, specifically functioning as a positive feedback loop between cancer-associated fibroblasts and macrophages.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed comprehensive molecular and intercellular interaction networks in GCTB, which may advance the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms in GCTB and contribute essential information for its treatment. Our findings make confution in the complex functional dynamics in the TME.