Single-cell RNA sequencing for characterizing the immune communication and iron metabolism roles in CD31+ glioma cells

Abstract

Background: Gliomas are aggressive brain tumors marked by complex cellular interactions and significant immune cell infiltration. This study investigated the role of CD31+ immune cells, specifically macrophages and T cells, in the glioma microenvironment through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Methods: We employed the CellChat framework to map cell-cell communication pathways and used Monocle3 for pseudotime trajectory analysis to characterize the signaling and developmental progressions within CD31+ cells. Pathways such as osteopontin (SPP1) and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) were analyzed in terms of their role in immune regulation, and we examined the expression of ferritin, an iron-binding protein, to assess its potential function in modulating CD31+ cell activity. Results: Our findings highlight the expression of key pathways, including SPP1 and MHC-II, influencing immune regulation. Ferritin was found to be highly expressed in CD31+ cells, suggesting a dual role in iron metabolism and immune modulation within the glioma microenvironment. Conclusions: This study clarified the distinct roles of CD31+ immune cells in glioma progression and identified ferritin as a potential therapeutic target for modulating immune responses in gliomas. These findings may offer new directions in glioma research and the development of immunotherapy, which can aid in improving treatment outcomes.