Affiliation:
1. School of Biology and Biological Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou Guangdong China
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundThe heterogeneity of tumor endothelial cells (TECs) hinders the efficacy of antiangiogenic therapies (AATs). Only a small percentage of angiogenic TECs are considered effective targets for AATs. Immunomodulatory ECs (IMECs), as a newly focused functional subgroup of endothelial cells (ECs), are being evaluated for their ability to regulate tumor immune balance and influence existing AATs.MethodsBased on single‐cell transcriptome data from colorectal cancer in a publicly available database, we conducted a wide array of bioinformatic approaches to study EC subsets that meet the IMECs definition. Our investigation encompassed the gene expression signatures of these subsets, cellular composition differences, cell–cell interactions.ResultsTwo subsets that meet the IMECs definition were found in tumors and para‐cancerous tissues. Combined with the results of gene ontological analysis and interaction with CD4+ T cells, we found that IMECs can present MHC‐II antigens to mature CD4+ T cells. There were differences in the level of interaction between IMECs and different types of mature CD4+ T cell subsets. In addition, IMEC subsets had different expression levels of angiogenesis related genes. The angiogenesis score of IMECs decreased after patients received immunotherapy. IMEC subsets do not depend on a single proangiogenic receptor and are involved in regulating angiogenesis, which may reduce the efficacy of AATs. The adverse effects of specific IMEC subsets on AATs were validated in the RNA‐seq dataset of the bevacizumab treatment group.ConclusionOur study suggests the potential MHC‐II antigen presentation capacity of IMECs and the enhanced angiogenesis characteristics within tumors. The function of IMECs in the vascular network may have a potentially adverse effect on AATs. Controlling the functional properties of IMECs may be a new angle for tumor therapy.