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Characterizing Macrophage Diversity in Metastasis-Bearing Lungs Reveals a Lipid-Associated Macrophage Subset
Huggins DN, LaRue RS, Wang Y, Knutson TP, Xu Y, Williams JW, Schwertfeger KL.. Cancer research, 2021-08-13
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
While macrophages are among the most abundant immune cell type found within primary and metastatic mammary tumors, how their complexity and heterogeneity change with metastatic progression remains unknown. Here, macrophages were isolated from the lungs of mice bearing orthotopic mammary tumors for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Seven distinct macrophage clusters were identified, including populations exhibiting enhanced differential expression of genes related to antigen presentation ( H2-Aa, Cd74 ), cell cycle ( Stmn1, Cdk1 ), and interferon signaling ( Isg15, Ifitm3 ).
Key findings
- Here, macrophages were isolated from the lungs of mice bearing orthotopic mammary tumors for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).
- Seven distinct macrophage clusters were identified, including populations exhibiting enhanced differential expression of genes related to antigen presentation ( H2-Aa, Cd74 ), cell cycle ( Stmn1, Cdk1 ), and interferon signaling ( Isg15, Ifitm3 ).
- Interestingly, one cluster demonstrated a profile concordant with lipid-associated macrophages ( Lgals3, Trem2 ).
- Compared with nontumor-bearing controls, the number of these cells per gram of tissue was significantly increased in lungs from tumor-bearing mice, with the vast majority costaining positively with the alveolar macrophage marker Siglec-F.
Why it matters
This study is about macrophages in lungs bearing metastatic breast tumors in mice, not Alzheimer's disease. It provides no information on treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Cancer research) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Cancer Research: journal h-index 469 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 111 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.9 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 78 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Kathryn L. Schwertfeger: h-index 33 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Minnesota: institution h-index 1,568 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 34389631) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0101
- PubMed: 34389631
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Huggins, D. N., LaRue, R. S., Wang, Y., Knutson, T. P., Xu, Y., Williams, J. W., et al. (2021). Characterizing Macrophage Diversity in Metastasis-Bearing Lungs Reveals a Lipid-Associated Macrophage Subset. Cancer research. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0101
Vancouver
Huggins DN, LaRue RS, Wang Y, Knutson TP, Xu Y, Williams JW, et al. Characterizing Macrophage Diversity in Metastasis-Bearing Lungs Reveals a Lipid-Associated Macrophage Subset. Cancer research. 2021. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0101. PMID: 34389631.
BibTeX
@article{huggins2021-34389631,
author = {Huggins, D. N. and LaRue, R. S. and Wang, Y. and Knutson, T. P. and Xu, Y. and Williams, J. W. and Schwertfeger, K. L.},
title = {{Characterizing Macrophage Diversity in Metastasis-Bearing Lungs Reveals a Lipid-Associated Macrophage Subset}},
journal = {Cancer research},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0101},
pmid = {34389631},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0101}
}
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