Single cell level characterization of Cdh11 deficiency-induced changes in pancreatic cancer
Cadherin 11 (Cdh11), a cell-to-cell adhesion molecule, has been suggested to promote tumor growth and immunosuppression in PDAC, and Cdh11 inhibition significantly extended survival in mice with PDAC. However, the mechanisms by which Cdh11 deficiency influences PDAC progression and anti-tumor immune responses has yet to be fully elucidated. To investigate Cdh11-deficiency induced changes in PDAC tumor microenvironment (TME), we crossed p48-Cre; LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53R172H/+ (KPC) mice with Cdh11+/- mice and performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of the non-immune (CD45-) and immune (CD45+) compartment of KPC tumor bearing Cdh11 proficient (KPC-Cdh11+/+) and Cdh11 deficient (KPC-Cdh11+/-) mice. Overall design: KPC-Cdh11+/+, KPC-Cdh11+/- and Cdh11+/+ cohorts (n>=4) were euthanized at 4-5 months of age. Pancreases were excised, CD45-/7-AAD-  (non-immune) and CD45+/7-AAD- (immune) cells populations were sorted via fluorescently activated cell sorting (FACS) and profiled using scRNA-seq.