Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cell type-specific immune regulation associated with human neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Yushu Jiang; Shuhua Dai; Rui Pang; Lingzhi Qin; Milan Zhang; Huiqin Liu; Xiaojuan Wang; Jiewen Zhang; Gongxin Peng; Yongchao Wang; Wei Li

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1322125

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cell type-specific immune regulation associated with human neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Front Immunol. 2024 Feb 19:15:1322125. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1322125. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Yushu Jiang^#¹, Shuhua Dai^#², Rui Pang¹, Lingzhi Qin¹, Milan Zhang¹, Huiqin Liu¹, Xiaojuan Wang¹, Jiewen Zhang¹, Gongxin Peng³, Yongchao Wang⁴, Wei Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Henan Joint International Research Laboratory Of Accurate Diagnosis, Treatment, Research And Development, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
² Department of Neurology, Zhoukou Central Hospital, Zhoukou, Henan, China.
³ Center for Bioinformatics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
⁴ Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Yexian, Pingdingshan, Henan, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Introduction: One rare type of autoimmune disease is called neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and the peripheral immune characteristics of NMOSD remain unclear.

Methods: Here, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is used to characterize peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals with NMOSD.

Results: The differentiation and activation of lymphocytes, expansion of myeloid cells, and an excessive inflammatory response in innate immunity are observed. Flow cytometry analyses confirm a significant increase in the percentage of plasma cells among B cells in NMOSD. NMOSD patients exhibit an elevated percentage of CD8+ T cells within the T cell population. Oligoclonal expansions of B cell receptors are observed after therapy. Additionally, individuals with NMOSD exhibit elevated expression of CXCL8, IL7, IL18, TNFSF13, IFNG, and NLRP3.

Discussion: Peripheral immune response high-dimensional single-cell profiling identifies immune cell subsets specific to a certain disease and identifies possible new targets for NMOSD.

Keywords: B cell; T cell; myeloid cell; neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder; peripheral blood mononuclear cell; single-cell RNA sequencing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autoimmune Diseases*
Cell Growth Processes
Humans
Leukocytes, Mononuclear
Neuromyelitis Optica* / genetics
Sequence Analysis, RNA

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by a grant (NO. SBGJ2018077) to WL from the Medical Science and Technology Project of Henan Province. The funder did not participate in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.