Open Access

Single‑cell RNA sequencing analysis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma reveals SPP1 facilitates disease progression via interaction with CD4+ T cells

  • Authors:
    • Xian Lin
    • Huanyan Peng
    • Ke Liu
    • Wenqi Chen
    • Ximing Shao
    • Chun Ning
    • Hongchang Li
    • Dongye Yang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 10, 2025     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15135
  • Article Number: 390
  • Copyright: © Lin et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is an aggressive form of cancer, characterized by limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. Immunological therapy is an emerging and promising strategy that has the potential to enhance treatment outcomes and extend the survival of patients with ICC. The role of CD4+ T cells in the development of cancer has attracted attention in previous years. However, the complexities of the tumor microenvironment (TME) impede the full understanding of the roles of CD4+ T cells in cancer. The present study used single‑cell RNA sequencing to explore the heterogeneity of the TME during the development of ICC. The results demonstrated that CD4+ T cells were enriched in the TME of ICC and the ratio of regulatory T cells (CD4‑forkhead box P3) to central memory T cells (CD4‑interleukin 7 receptor) was markedly increased. Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) and CD44 showed increased expression levels in tumor cells and T cells from ICC tumor tissues, respectively. Additionally, SPP1 gene expression levels were higher and the ratio of regulatory T cells to central memory T cells was increased in the late stage of ICC compared with the early stage. Elevated levels of SPP1 were associated with a poor prognosis for patients with ICC. Finally, analysis of cell‑cell interactions, utilizing established receptor‑ligand pairs, demonstrated that ICC tumor cells may engage with immune cells through an SPP1‑CD44 axis. Therefore, the results suggest that ICC tumor cells impact CD4+ T‑cell differentiation, which could alter the immune TME in ICC and potentially promote ICC tumor progression.
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August-2025
Volume 30 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Lin X, Peng H, Liu K, Chen W, Shao X, Ning C, Li H and Yang D: Single‑cell RNA sequencing analysis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma reveals SPP1 facilitates disease progression via interaction with CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells. Oncol Lett 30: 390, 2025.
APA
Lin, X., Peng, H., Liu, K., Chen, W., Shao, X., Ning, C. ... Yang, D. (2025). Single‑cell RNA sequencing analysis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma reveals SPP1 facilitates disease progression via interaction with CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells. Oncology Letters, 30, 390. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15135
MLA
Lin, X., Peng, H., Liu, K., Chen, W., Shao, X., Ning, C., Li, H., Yang, D."Single‑cell RNA sequencing analysis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma reveals SPP1 facilitates disease progression via interaction with CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells". Oncology Letters 30.2 (2025): 390.
Chicago
Lin, X., Peng, H., Liu, K., Chen, W., Shao, X., Ning, C., Li, H., Yang, D."Single‑cell RNA sequencing analysis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma reveals SPP1 facilitates disease progression via interaction with CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells". Oncology Letters 30, no. 2 (2025): 390. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.15135