整合空间信息的正常与癌症相关结肠成纤维细胞图谱
An integrated spatially defined roadmap of normal and cancer-associated colon fibroblasts
研究结合大规模单细胞 RNA 测序、空间验证和功能实验，构建了人正常结肠成纤维细胞与间质亚群的参考图谱，并以小鼠结肠为参照。
来源：Molecular Systems Biology · doi.org
该研究以小鼠结肠为参照，用单细胞与空间验证构建人正常结肠和结直肠癌成纤维细胞参考图谱，为 CAF 分型提供统一坐标。
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote tumorigenesis and represent potential therapeutic targets, highlighting the need for precise understanding of CAF heterogeneity. In colorectal cancer (CRC), CAF subsets and nomenclature vary widely, and many studies overlook the diversity of normal colon fibroblasts that shapes tumor mesenchyme. Here, we combine large-scale single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis with spatial validation and functional assays to construct a comprehensive reference map of human normal colon fibroblasts and mesenchymal subsets, guided by the well-characterized mouse colon. We define three major fibroblast populations, subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs), mucosa-associated fibroblasts (MAFs), and submucosa-associated fibroblasts (SAFs), and characterize a previously underexplored muscle-embedded interstitial fibroblast (MIF) population. This reference enabled mapping of CRC-specific changes, revealing four cancer-specific CAF subsets, including inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs), matrix CAFs (mCAFs), and two precursor populations (pre-CAFs). We also identify robust CRC CAF markers including CTHRC1, infer transcriptional regulators, and define distinct developmental trajectories driving iCAF and mCAF activation. Together, our study provides a spatially and transcriptionally resolved reference map of fibroblasts in the normal colon and CRC, enabling mechanistic studies and informing CAF-targeted therapies.