The suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 regulates glioma stem cell maintenance and immune microenvironment through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling.

This study aims to elucidate the role of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) in glioma stem cells (GSCs) via single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), focusing on its regulation of STAT3-mediated self-renewal, apoptosis resistance, and tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling. ScRNA-seq data from 19 high-grade glioma patients were analyzed using Seurat, Harmony, and SingleR for clustering, annotation, and SOCS3 stratification (SOCS3-High: n = 4; SOCS3-Low: n = 15). Differential gene analysis, pathway enrichment, and CellChat were employed for TME characterization. In vitro, SOCS3-overexpressing/silenced GSC11 models were tested via MTT, TUNEL, neurosphere assays, and STAT3 pathway modulation (IL-6). In vivo, intracranial xenografts in nude mice evaluated tumor growth and survival. SOCS3 was downregulated in GSCs and neurons. SOCS3-Low GSCs exhibited 777 differentially expressed genes enriched in T-cell receptor, p53, and JAK-STAT axis, suppressed T-cell/microglia infiltration, and promoted oligodendrocyte precursor cell/astrocyte survival. SOCS3 overexpression reduced GSC proliferation, induced apoptosis, inhibited neurosphere formation, and suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation and stemness markers (OCT4/SOX2/NANOG). IL-6 reactivated STAT3, reversing SOCS3-mediated tumor suppression. In vivo, SOCS3 overexpression attenuated tumor growth and prolonged survival, counteracted by IL-6. Low SOCS3 expression contributes to glioma progression by promoting STAT3 activation and an immunosuppressive TME. Targeting the SOCS3-STAT3 axis may offer therapeutic potential.