The potential role of BCL2A1⁺ tissue-resident macrophages in the prognosis of Wilms tumor

Abstract Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have a significant impact on the prognosis and treatment outcomes of Wilms tumor (WT) patients. To explore the key mechanisms underlying WT progression and immune therapy, this study used CIBERSORT to analyze the immune cell infiltration of 120 WT patient...

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Main Authors: Wei Wang, Xianwu Yang, Zhihui Zhu, Zhishen Tang, Yingquan Zhuo, Jun Du, Yuxian Zhu, Xi Luo, Jingjing Xiao, Huajian Gu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:European Journal of Medical Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02935-3
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author Wei Wang
Xianwu Yang
Zhihui Zhu
Zhishen Tang
Yingquan Zhuo
Jun Du
Yuxian Zhu
Xi Luo
Jingjing Xiao
Huajian Gu
author_facet Wei Wang
Xianwu Yang
Zhihui Zhu
Zhishen Tang
Yingquan Zhuo
Jun Du
Yuxian Zhu
Xi Luo
Jingjing Xiao
Huajian Gu
author_sort Wei Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have a significant impact on the prognosis and treatment outcomes of Wilms tumor (WT) patients. To explore the key mechanisms underlying WT progression and immune therapy, this study used CIBERSORT to analyze the immune cell infiltration of 120 WT patients. Combined with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, the heterogeneity of macrophages in WT and adjacent tissues was revealed, identifying a subpopulation of tissue-resident macrophages with specific expression of BCL2A1. Further validation through immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) experiments confirmed the presence of BCL2A1⁺tissue-resident macrophages and elevated BCL2A1 expression is associated with advanced tumors and poor prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis suggests that BCL2A1⁺tissue-resident macrophages may promote WT progression through immune regulation and apoptosis pathways. This study is the first to identify the presence of a BCL2A1⁺tissue-resident macrophage subset in WT and reveal its critical role in tumor progression, potentially providing a novel target for personalized immunotherapy.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series European Journal of Medical Research
spelling doaj-art-a7a67c05f2694d7c89d1a4e3b8c719b52025-08-20T04:01:53ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-07-0130111610.1186/s40001-025-02935-3The potential role of BCL2A1⁺ tissue-resident macrophages in the prognosis of Wilms tumorWei Wang0Xianwu Yang1Zhihui Zhu2Zhishen Tang3Yingquan Zhuo4Jun Du5Yuxian Zhu6Xi Luo7Jingjing Xiao8Huajian Gu9Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical UniversitySchool of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical UniversityThird Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People’s HospitalDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical UniversityAbstract Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have a significant impact on the prognosis and treatment outcomes of Wilms tumor (WT) patients. To explore the key mechanisms underlying WT progression and immune therapy, this study used CIBERSORT to analyze the immune cell infiltration of 120 WT patients. Combined with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, the heterogeneity of macrophages in WT and adjacent tissues was revealed, identifying a subpopulation of tissue-resident macrophages with specific expression of BCL2A1. Further validation through immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) experiments confirmed the presence of BCL2A1⁺tissue-resident macrophages and elevated BCL2A1 expression is associated with advanced tumors and poor prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis suggests that BCL2A1⁺tissue-resident macrophages may promote WT progression through immune regulation and apoptosis pathways. This study is the first to identify the presence of a BCL2A1⁺tissue-resident macrophage subset in WT and reveal its critical role in tumor progression, potentially providing a novel target for personalized immunotherapy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02935-3BCL2A1Wilms tumorTissue-resident macrophagesPrognostic significanceTumor microenvironment
spellingShingle Wei Wang
Xianwu Yang
Zhihui Zhu
Zhishen Tang
Yingquan Zhuo
Jun Du
Yuxian Zhu
Xi Luo
Jingjing Xiao
Huajian Gu
The potential role of BCL2A1⁺ tissue-resident macrophages in the prognosis of Wilms tumor
European Journal of Medical Research
BCL2A1
Wilms tumor
Tissue-resident macrophages
Prognostic significance
Tumor microenvironment
title The potential role of BCL2A1⁺ tissue-resident macrophages in the prognosis of Wilms tumor
title_full The potential role of BCL2A1⁺ tissue-resident macrophages in the prognosis of Wilms tumor
title_fullStr The potential role of BCL2A1⁺ tissue-resident macrophages in the prognosis of Wilms tumor
title_full_unstemmed The potential role of BCL2A1⁺ tissue-resident macrophages in the prognosis of Wilms tumor
title_short The potential role of BCL2A1⁺ tissue-resident macrophages in the prognosis of Wilms tumor
title_sort potential role of bcl2a1⁺ tissue resident macrophages in the prognosis of wilms tumor
topic BCL2A1
Wilms tumor
Tissue-resident macrophages
Prognostic significance
Tumor microenvironment
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02935-3
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