Single-cell perspective on the Monocyte-to-HDL cholesterol ratio as a metastasis biomarker in papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a globally widespread inflammation-related cancer, where lymph node metastasis (LNM) poses significant challenges to the prognosis of PTC. The role of the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), a novel inflammation marker attracting increasing attention, in PTC remains unclear.

METHODS

Clinical data analysis was adopted to preliminarily explore the relationship between clinical features and LNM of PTC. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the GSE191288 and GSE193581 datasets were integrated to analyze various single-cell infiltration in PTC. A comprehensive suite of in vitro experiments, encompassing immunohistochemistry, co-culture, and Transwell assays were conducted to elucidate the regulatory role of macrophages and PTC.

RESULTS

Clinical data analysis confirmed MHR could be an independent risk factor for LNM (OR = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.20-2.88, P = 0.011). The single-cell analysis identified cell clusters associated with dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis Q1 and CD68 + C3 macrophage subpopulations, as well as their markers GDF15. Further analysis confirmed that they are closely related to PTC metastasis and malignancy, which also implied a significant correlation between MHR and LNM. The in vitro experiments demonstrated PTC may promote metastasis by mediating inducing macrophage differentiation to the M2 phenotype.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the potential role of MHR in PTC from the single-cell perspective for the first time. Combined with the results of clinical studies and basic experiments, it was confirmed that mononuclear/macrophage and cholesterol homeostasis significantly promoted the lymph node metastasis of PTC. Overall, these findings informed robust support for MHR as an emerging marker for preoperative LNM prediction of PTC.