Unveiling the Key Mechanisms of FOLR2+ Macrophage-mediated Antitumor Immunity in Breast Cancer Using Integrated Single-cell RNA Sequencing and Bulk RNA Sequencing

Overview

Journal Breast Cancer Res

Specialty Oncology

Date 2025 Mar 5

PMID 40045365

Authors

Sixuan Wu

Baohong Jiang

Zhimin Li

Yuanbin Tang

Lunqi Luo

Wenjie Feng

Yiling Jiang

Yeru Tan

Yuehua Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BRCA) is a common malignant tumor, and its immune microenvironment plays a crucial role in disease progression. In this research, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing technologies, combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments, to thoroughly investigate the immunological functions and mechanisms of FOLR2+ macrophages in BRCA. Our findings demonstrate a significant enhancement in the interaction between FOLR2+ macrophages and CD8 T cells within the tumor tissues of BRCA patients. FOLR2 is closely associated with T cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment of BRCA patients, particularly with CD8 T cells. By secreting CXCL9 and engaging with CXCR3, FOLR2+ macrophages can activate the functionality of CD8 T cells, thereby promoting cancer cell apoptosis. Further animal experiments confirm that FOLR2+ macrophages activate CD8 T cells through the CXCL9-CXCR3 axis, exhibiting an antitumor immunity effect in BRCA. FOLR2+ macrophages play a crucial role in antitumor immunity in BRCA through the CXCL9-CXCR3 axis.

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