Multi-omics profiling reveals an immunosuppressive plasma cell subset within tertiary lymphoid structures in cervical cancer
Cervical cancer (CC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, and understanding the tumor immune microenvironment is crucial for identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. While T cells have been extensively studied in oncology, the role of B cells in CC remains poorly understood. In this study, we generated and integrated multi-omics data, including single-cell RNA sequencing, single-nucleus RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, bulk RNA sequencing, and multiplex immunofluorescence to investigate the composition and transcriptomic states of B cells in CC. Initially, we analyzed plasma cells, classifying them into IgA We identified distinct plasma cell subsets in CC and found that HSPA1B_PC are enriched in tumors, associated with immunosuppressive T cells in TLS. These findings suggest that HSPA1B_PC contribute to an immunosuppressive microenvironment in CC, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets.
Authors
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant 82403773National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant 81670144Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF Grant GZB20230041The Medical Education Research Project of the Medical Education Branch of Chinese Medical Association and Medical Education Professional Committee of Chinese Association of Higher Education Grant 2020B-N15414Teaching research project of Medical Faculty of Wuhan University in 2021 Grant 2021026Special Project of Science and Technology Cooperation between Hubei Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences Grant 42000021817T300000050Hubei Province Big Health Industry Development Special Fund Grant 2019916000001