Fibroblast–myeloid stromal crosstalk is associated with clinicopathological diversity and clinical outcome in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas

The snRNA sequencing revealed that fibroblasts were the main source of cell–cell communication, whereas myeloid and mast cells were the main receivers. Therefore, we subclassified fibroblasts into inflammatory (iCAF), myofibroblast (myCAF), and reticular-like (rCAF) subpopulations, and myeloid cells into monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic subpopulations.

Additional analyses revealed that iCAF and rCAF mainly communicated with SPP1^High macrophages and neutrophils via inflammatory pathways. Conversely, myCAF mainly communicated with monocytes and mast cells via ECM-associated pathways.