Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the existence of pro-metastatic subpopulation within a parental B16 murine melanoma cell line

The mechanism of melanoma metastasis is poorly understood, especially at the single-cell level. To understand the evolution from primary melanoma to metastasis, we investigated single-cell transcriptome profiles of parental B16 melanoma cells (B16F0) and its highly metastatic subclone (B16F10). Genomic alterations between cells were also analyzed by whole-exome sequencing. We identified 274 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in B16F10, including upregulated genes related to metastasis, Lgals3, Sparc, Met, and Tmsb4x, and downregulated Mitf pathway genes, Ptgds, Cyb5a, and Cd63. The proportion of cycling cells and cells highly expressing Kdm5b was significantly high in B16F10 cells. Among the five subclusters of B16 cells (C1-5), C3/C4 clusters comprised both B16F0 and B16F10 cells and exhibited intermediate DEG patterns, whereas the C5 cluster mostly comprised B16F10 and showed typical metastatic characteristics. In trajectory analysis, the C4 cluster in B16F0, which showed unique characteristics (mainly cycling cells and upregulation of Mitf pathway genes), have transition potential to the C5 cluster (B16F10). Regarding genomic alterations, stepwise evolution with shared mutations, including Braf, Pten, and Trp53, and further specific alterations led to metastatic development. Our results provide deeper understanding of melanoma metastasis at the single-cell level, thus aiding further studies in melanoma metastasis control.