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Pancreatic cancer is marked by complement-high blood monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages
Kemp SB, Steele NG, Carpenter ES, Donahue KL, Bushnell GG, Morris AH, The S, Orbach SM et al.. Life science alliance, 2021-03-29
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is accompanied by reprogramming of the local microenvironment, but changes at distal sites are poorly understood. We implanted biomaterial scaffolds, which act as an artificial premetastatic niche, into immunocompetent tumor-bearing and control mice, and identified a unique tumor-specific gene expression signature that includes high expression of C1qa , C1qb , Trem2 , and Chil3 Single-cell RNA sequencing mapped these genes to two distinct macrophage populations in the scaffolds, one marked by elevated C1qa , C1qb , and Trem2 , the other with high Chil3 , Ly6c2 and Plac8 In mice, expression of these genes in the corresponding populations was elevated in tumor-associated macrophages compared with macrophages in the normal pancreas. We then analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing from patient samples, and determined expression of C1QA , C1QB , and TREM2 is
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Kemp, S. B., Steele, N. G., Carpenter, E. S., Donahue, K. L., Bushnell, G. G., Morris, A. H., et al. (2021). Pancreatic cancer is marked by complement-high blood monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages. Life science alliance. https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202000935
Vancouver
Kemp SB, Steele NG, Carpenter ES, Donahue KL, Bushnell GG, Morris AH, et al. Pancreatic cancer is marked by complement-high blood monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages. Life science alliance. 2021. doi:10.26508/lsa.202000935. PMID: 33782087.
BibTeX
@article{kemp2021-33782087,
author = {Kemp, S. B. and Steele, N. G. and Carpenter, E. S. and Donahue, K. L. and Bushnell, G. G. and Morris, A. H. and The, S. and Orbach, S. M. and others},
title = {{Pancreatic cancer is marked by complement-high blood monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages}},
journal = {Life science alliance},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.26508/lsa.202000935},
pmid = {33782087},
url = {https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202000935}
}
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Key findings
- We implanted biomaterial scaffolds, which act as an artificial premetastatic niche, into immunocompetent tumor-bearing and control mice, and identified a unique tumor-specific gene expression signature that includes high expression of C1qa , C1qb , Trem2 , and Chil3 Single-cell RNA sequencing mapped these genes to two distinct macrophage populations in the scaffolds, one marked by elevated C1qa , C1qb , and Trem2 , the other with high Chil3 , Ly6c2 and Plac8 In mice, expression of these genes in the corresponding populations was elevated in tumor-associated macrophages compared with macrophages in the normal pancreas.
- We then analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing from patient samples, and determined expression of C1QA , C1QB , and TREM2 is elevated in human macrophages in primary tumors and liver metastases.
- Single-cell sequencing analysis of patient blood revealed a substantial enrichment of the same gene signature in monocytes.
- Taken together, our study identifies two distinct tumor-associated macrophage and monocyte populations that reflects systemic immune changes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients.
Why it matters
This study is about pancreatic cancer and found high C1qa, C1qb, and Trem2 expression in macrophage populations in mice and human tumor samples. It provides no information about 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 (Life science alliance) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Life Science Alliance: journal h-index 61 (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 128 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 18.3 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 63 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Marina Pasca di Magliano: h-index 58 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Michigan: institution h-index 2,240 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33782087) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000935
- PubMed: 33782087
- Original source →
- Free full text: Life Science Alliance →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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