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Updated: Jul 1, 2025
A Unified Methodological Framework for Vestibular Schwannoma Research
Published on: June 20, 2017
Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of vestibular schwannoma reveals functionally distinct macrophage subsets
Paramita Baruah1,2,3, Christopher Mahony4, Jennifer L Marshall4
1Department of ENT, University Hospitals of Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK. paramita.baruah@nhs.net.
Background:
Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) remain a challenge due to their anatomical location and propensity to growth. Macrophages are present in VS but their roles in VS pathogenesis remains unknown.
Objectives:
The objective was to assess phenotypic and functional profile of macrophages in VS with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq).
Methods:
scRNAseq was carried out in three VS samples to examine characteristics of macrophages in the tumour. RT-qPCR was carried out on 10 VS samples for CD14, CD68 and CD163 and a panel of macrophage-associated molecules.
Results:
scRNAseq revealed macrophages to be a major constituent of VS microenvironment with three distinct subclusters based on gene expression. The subclusters were also defined by expression of CD163, CD68 and IL-1β. AREG and PLAUR were expressed in the CD68+CD163+IL-1β+ subcluster, PLCG2 and NCKAP5 were expressed in CD68+CD163+IL-1β- subcluster and AUTS2 and SPP1 were expressed in the CD68+CD163-IL-1β+ subcluster. RT-qPCR showed expression of several macrophage markers in VS of which CD14, ALOX15, Interleukin-1β, INHBA and Colony Stimulating Factor-1R were found to have a high correlation with tumour volume.
Conclusions:
Macrophages form an important component of VS stroma. scRNAseq reveals three distinct subsets of macrophages in the VS tissue which may have differing roles in the pathogenesis of VS.
