A novel exploration of 's role in regulating myeloid-derived suppressor cell activation within the colon cancer microenvironment.

This study aimed to elucidate the role of collagen type XI alpha 1 ()-positive cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in modifying the tumor microenvironment of colon cancer (CC) and facilitating immune evasion through interactions with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Using single-cell transcriptomic sequencing, we analyzed the interplay between -positive CAFs and MDSCs in the CC microenvironment, focusing on how impacts MDSC differentiation and activation. The results demonstrate that expression in fibroblasts significantly enhances matrix metalloproteinase ()3 and expression, leading to paracrine induction of MDSC differentiation and activation, which promotes immune evasion and tumor growth. Additionally, we observed that knockout (COL11A1) suppresses tumor growth and hinders immune evasion. These findings underscore the essential role of -positive CAFs in establishing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment conducive to CC progression. By elucidating the molecular pathway through which influences MDSC activity, this research suggests new therapeutic avenues for targeting the tumor microenvironment in CC, particularly through modulating expression in CAFs.