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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Neuroendocrine Tumor | Research

Single-cell transcriptomics link gene expression signatures to clinicopathological features of gonadotroph and lactotroph PitNET

Authors: T. Elise Potthoff, Carolin Walter, Daniela Jeising, Daniel Münter, Archana Verma, Eric Suero Molina, Walter Stummer, Martin Dugas, Wolfgang Hartmann, Matthias Dottermusch, Lea Altendorf, Ulrich Schüller, Sophia Scheuermann, Christian Seitz, Thomas K. Albert, Kornelius Kerl

Published in: Journal of Translational Medicine | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNET) are among the most common intracranial tumors. Despite a frequent benign course, aggressive behavior can occur. Tumor behavior is known to be under the influence of the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the relationship between TME cells and aggressive tumor behavior has not been adequately explored in PitNET.

Methods

We performed differential expression analysis as well as gene expression program identification based on single-cell RNA sequencing to comparatively characterize the transcriptome of seven gonadotroph and three lactotroph PitNET and correlate it with clinical features using bulk RNA-seq data from an independent cohort of 134 PitNET. Tumor immune infiltration was quantified via immunostaining on tissue sections of gonadotroph and lactotroph PitNET.

Results

In lactotroph PitNET, we detect a highly proliferative gene profile with significantly increased expression levels in aggressively growing tumors within bulk RNA-seq data of an independent cohort of 134 PitNET samples. We also report high intratumoral heterogeneity in gonadotroph PitNET (GoPN) and lactotroph PitNET (LaPN) and identify signatures of epithelial, endocrine, and immunological gene networks in both subtypes. A comparison of their TME composition shows enrichment of SPP1⁺ macrophages and CD4⁺ T cells in GoPN, as well as enrichment of CD4/CD8 double-negative T cells (DN) and natural killer cells (NK) in LaPN. Also notable is the presence of proliferative lymphocytes, the occurrence of which positively correlates with more aggressive tumor behavior in the bulk RNA-seq cohort. However, increased CD8⁺ T and NK cell abundances correlate significantly with reduced aggressiveness indicating potential anti-tumoral effects.

Conclusions

Our study expands the knowledge of the differences in cellular composition of gonadotroph and lactotroph PitNET subtypes. It lays the foundation for further studies on the influence of lymphoid cells on the variable aggressive behavior of PitNET. Regarding the treatment of drug-resistant lactotroph PitNET, proliferative lymphocytes, CD8⁺ T, and NK cells could represent potentially valuable targets for developing new cancer immunotherapies.

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Title: Single-cell transcriptomics link gene expression signatures to clinicopathological features of gonadotroph and lactotroph PitNET
Authors: T. Elise Potthoff
Carolin Walter
Daniela Jeising
Daniel Münter
Archana Verma
Eric Suero Molina
Walter Stummer
Martin Dugas
Wolfgang Hartmann
Matthias Dottermusch
Lea Altendorf
Ulrich Schüller
Sophia Scheuermann
Christian Seitz
Thomas K. Albert
Kornelius Kerl
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Neuroendocrine Tumor
Published in: Journal of Translational Medicine / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1479-5876
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05821-4

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