Molecular characteristic of immune cells in ulcerative colitis patients with spleen deficiency and dampness syndrome based on single-cell RNA sequencing

doi:10.12307/2023.740

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Immune-mediated tissue destruction is essential for the development and deterioration of inflammation in ulcerative colitis, but their roles remain unclear. Simultaneously, ulcerative colitis patients with spleen deficiency and dampness syndrome lack objective biomarkers.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular characteristics of immune cells in ulcerative colitis patients with spleen deficiency and dampness based on single-cell RNA sequencing so as to provide a basis for its clinical diagnosis and treatment.
METHODS: Colon tissues of two ulcerative colitis patients and two healthy controls were obtained. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed. The following analyses were carried out for the single-cell RNA sequencing data: cluster analysis, dimensionality reduction analysis, cell type annotation, differential expression analysis and cell communication analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) A total of 29 cell sub-types were identified according to clustering analysis in single cell transcriptome, which consisted of 9 cell types. (2) Compared with healthy controls, the ulcerative colitis patients with spleen deficiency and dampness syndrome had higher expression levels of CD4+ cytotoxic T cells, naive CD8+ T cells, germinal center, activated B cells, S100Ahigh B cells, NK_C2 cells and monocytes (P < 0.05). Compared with healthy controls, Tfh cells, NKT cells and NK cells decreased in patients with ulcerative colitis (P < 0.05). (3) Functional enrichment of differentially expressed genes showed that there were hyperinflammatory activation in immune cells and higher metabolic reprogramming of NK cells, plasma cells and helper T cells for ulcerative colitis patients. (4) Cell communication analysis identified 14 interactions among different cell types, mainly from monocytes and endothelial cells. (5) There are significant differences in molecular characteristics of immune cells between ulcerative colitis patients and healthy controls. These cell subsets may be related to the occurrence and development of ulcerative colitis, which may be a biomarker for ulcerative colitis patients with spleen deficiency and dampness syndrome.

Key words: ulcerative colitis, single-cell RNA sequencing, immune cell, spleen deficiency and dampness syndrome, molecular characteristic, biomarker

CLC Number:

Zhang Shijing, Huang Zhuojian, Tao Quyuan, Hou Jiangtao, Peng Bin, Luo Yongxin, Li Yanwu, Li Huibiao, Zhong Jiamin, Chen Xinlin. Molecular characteristic of immune cells in ulcerative colitis patients with spleen deficiency and dampness syndrome based on single-cell RNA sequencing[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2023, 27(33): 5357-5362.

Figures/Tables 6

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