Single-Cell RNA Sequencing: A Deep Dive into The Cellular Landscape and Interactions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with its progression highly influenced by the cellular interplay within the tumor microenvironment that is underexplored. Aiming to bridge this gap, our study utilizes single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to examine the cellular heterogeneity of HCC and investigate the roles of distinct cell populations. scRNA-seq was performed on eight DEN mice HCC samples, followed by bioinformatic analysis with Seurat package. Nine distinct cell populations were identified, with three unique macrophage populations suggestive of their role as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The detected endothelial cells and pericytes hint at ongoing neoangiogenesis, with implications that endothelial cells might function as tumor-associated endothelial cells (TECs) and pericytes as carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Our findings provide insights into the potential roles of various cell populations in the HCC tumor microenvironment, which paves the way for developing novel therapies. These postulations, while offering a deeper understanding of HCC's cellular landscape, necessitate experimental validation for confirmation.