Mesenchymal Lineage Heterogeneity Underlies Nonredundant Functions of Pancreatic Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) heterogeneity is increasingly appreciated, but the origins and functions of distinct CAF subtypes remain poorly understood. The abundant and transcriptionally diverse CAF population in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is thought to arise from a common cell of origin, pancreatic stellate cells (PSC), with diversifi cation resulting from cytokine and growth factor gradients within the tumor microenvironment. Here we analyzed the differentiation and function of PSCs during tumor progression in vivo . Contrary to expectations, we found that PSCs give rise to a numerically minor subset of PDAC CAFs. Targeted ablation of PSC-derived CAFs within their host tissue revealed nonredundant functions for this defi ned CAF population in shaping the PDAC microenvironment, including production of specifi c extracellular matrix components and tissue stiffness regulation. Together, these findings link stromal evolution from distinct cells of origin to transcriptional heterogeneity among PDAC CAFs and demonstrate unique functions for CAFs of a defi ned cellular origin. SIGNIFICANCE: By tracking and ablating a specifi c CAF population, we find that a numerically minor CAF subtype from a defi ned cell of origin plays unique roles in establishing the pancreatic tumor micro environment. Together with prior studies, this work suggests that mesenchymal lineage heterogeneity and signaling gradients diversify PDAC CAFs.

Automated summary

This study reveals the origins and functions of distinct cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subtypes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). It shows that the abundant and transcriptionally diverse CAF population in PDAC arises from pancreatic stellate cells (PSC), but only a minor subset is derived from PSCs. These PSC-derived CAFs have unique functions in shaping the PDAC microenvironment.