Comparative immunological landscape between pre- and early-stage LUAD manifested as ground-glass nodules revealed by scRNA and scTCR integrated analysis

BACKGROUND: Mechanism underlying the malignant progression of precancer to early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) as well as their indolence nature remains elusive. METHODS: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA) with simultaneous T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing on 5 normal lung tissues, 3 precancerous and 4 early-stage LUAD manifested as pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) were performed. RESULTS: Through this integrated analysis, we have delineated five key modules that drive the malignant progression of early-stage LUAD in a disease stage-dependent manner. These modules are related to cell proliferation and metabolism, immune response, mitochondria, cilia, and cell adhesion. We also find that the tumor micro-environment (TME) of early-stage LUAD manifested as GGN are featured with regulatory T (Tregs) cells accumulation with three possible origins, and loss-functional state (decreased clonal expansion and cytotoxicity) of CD8 + T cells. Instead of exhaustion, the CD8 + T cells are featured with a shift to memory phenotype, which is significantly different from the late stage LUAD. Furthermore, we have identified monocyte-derived macrophages that undergo a lipid-phenotype transition and may contribute to the suppressive TME. Intense interaction between stromal cells, myeloid cells including lipid associated macrophages and LAMP3 + DCs, and lymphocytes were also characterized. CONCLUSIONS: Our work provides new insight into the molecular and cellular mechanism underlying malignant progression of LUAD manifested as GGN, and pave way for novel immunotherapies for GGN. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-023-01322-x.