Exosomal POSTN from cancer-associated fibroblasts drives progression of microinvasive lung adenocarcinoma: insights from single-cell and tissue exosome sequencing analysis
Quick Facts
- Publication title: Exosomal POSTN from cancer-associated fibroblasts drives progression of microinvasive lung adenocarcinoma: insights from single-cell and tissue exosome sequencing analysis
- Journal: Front Immunol
- Year: 2026
- DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1767771
- PMID/PMCID: 42238572; PMC13226168
Research overview
Integrated analyses of scRNA-seq data, exosomal transcriptomes, the TCGA-LUAD cohort, and an independent LUAD tissue/serum cohort were used to characterize POSTN expression and to evaluate its prognostic and diagnostic relevance. Exosomal POSTN derived from POSTN+ CAFs may represent an important stromal mediator of MIA/LUAD progression and a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in early-stage LUAD.
Key findings
scRNA-seq identified a malignant Cancer-alveolar type II (Cancer-AT2) epithelial subset and multiple CAF subsets.
Among these, POSTN+ CAFs were enriched in MIA tissues and showed enhanced crosstalk with Cancer-AT2 cells through extracellular matrix (ECM)-related ligand-receptor interactions.
Tissue-derived exosomes contained 588 differentially expressed mRNAs, among which POSTN was markedly upregulated and showed the strongest association with fibroblast-related signatures.
POSTN was predominantly expressed in fibroblasts across independent non-small cell lung cancer datasets and was elevated in LUAD tissues, tissue-derived exosomes, and serum exosomes, correlating with advanced stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor survival.
Study design
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and tissue-derived exosomal RNA sequencing were performed on four primary MIA lesions and matched adjacent lung tissues.
Integrated analyses of scRNA-seq data, exosomal transcriptomes, the TCGA-LUAD cohort, and an independent LUAD tissue/serum cohort were used to characterize POSTN expression and to evaluate its prognostic and diagnostic relevance.
Primary MIA-associated POSTN+ and POSTN- CAFs were isolated for exosome preparation, followed by co-culture experiments with LUAD cell lines and xenograft assays.
Echo Biotech Role
Echo Biotech contributed EV isolation and purification, EV characterization, lncRNA/mRNA sequencing, whole-transcriptome sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, integrated multi-omics analysis.
Related platforms: Exoomics®
Related services and capabilities: Tissue EV Isolation & Purification, EV Basic Characterization (TEM/NTA/WB), EV lncRNA/mRNA Sequencing, EV Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing, Single-Cell RNA Sequencing, Integrated Multi-omics Analysis
References
Original publication: Exosomal POSTN from cancer-associated fibroblasts drives progression of microinvasive lung adenocarcinoma: insights from single-cell and tissue exosome sequencing analysis Frontiers in immunology. 2026. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1767771. PMID/PMCID: 42238572; PMC13226168.