Divergent CD45⁺ immune landscapes shape the lung tumor microenvironment

The lung tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the progression and metastasis of lung cancer. It consists of various cell types that interact in complex ways to influence tumor behavior. CD45⁺ cells, as a component of the TME, have complex and multifaceted roles in lung cancer. The balance between the anti-tumor and pro-tumor functions of CD45⁺ cells can significantly affect lung cancer outcomes. Understanding these roles is essential for developing targeted therapies that harness the beneficial effects of CD45⁺ cells while mitigating their harmful effects.

We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of sorted CD45⁺ immune cells from healthy lungs, orthotopic LLC1 tumors, and Kras^LA2 (Kras) genetically engineered tumors. Analyses included immune composition, transcriptional programs, differentiation trajectories, metabolic states, and ligand-receptor-based intercellular communication networks.

Four major immune compartments, B cells, T cells, NK cells, and macrophages, underwent model-specific remodeling. LLC1 tumors showed B cell expansion and T and NK cell reduction, with inflammatory, stress-response, and NF-κB/TNF-dominant programs. Kras^LA2 tumors retained a balanced immune composition but exhibited metabolic rewiring, elevated antigen-presentation signatures, and selective intercellular signaling. Subclustering revealed specialized changes across B cell (resting, mature, pre-Bcr, late pro-B, plasma), T cell (Cd4⁺, Cd8⁺, memory, activated, Treg, Th17), NK cell (Fcgr3^high, Fcgr3^low, Xcl1⁺), and macrophage (Ace⁺, Bcr⁺, Ccr2⁺, Cd3⁺, metabolic, MHCII⁺) subsets. Ligand-receptor analyses highlighted dense inflammatory networks in LLC1 tumors versus metabolically tuned signaling in Kras^LA2 tumors.

Distinct CD45⁺ immune landscapes, characterized by inflammatory suppression in LLC1 and metabolic adaptation in Kras^LA2 tumors, shape lung tumor biology. This atlas identifies genotype-specific immune vulnerabilities with potential relevance for precision immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.