Key molecular alterations in endothelial cells in human glioblastoma uncovered through single-cell RNA sequencing

• DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150861
• Publication Date: 2021-07-06T16:01:58Z
• Authors: Yuan Xie; Liqun He; Roberta Lugano; Yanyu Zhang; Haiyan Cao; Qiyuan He; Min Chao; Boxuan Liu; Qingze Cao; Jianhao Wang; Yang Jiao; Yaqin Hu; Liying Han; Yong Zhang; Hua Huang; Lene Uhrbom; Christer Betsholtz; Liang Wang; Anna Dimberg; Lei Zhang
• Keywords: Single-Cell Analysis

Passage of systemically delivered pharmacological agents into the brain is largely blocked by blood-brain-barrier (BBB), an organotypic specialization endothelial cells (ECs). Tumor vessels in glioblastoma (GBM), most common malignant tumor humans, are abnormally permeable, but this phenotype heterogeneous and may differ between tumor's center invasive front. Here, through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) freshly isolated ECs from human paired peripheral tissues, we have constructed a molecular atlas providing unprecedented insight heterogeneity BBB its alteration glioblastoma. We identified 5 distinct EC phenotypes representing different states activation impairment, associated with anatomical locations within around tumor. This unique data resource provides key information for designing rational therapeutic regimens optimizing drug delivery.