The immune system is highly complex, encompassing more than just the classification of immune cells. The potency of these cells and their activation, inhibition, and exhaustion significantly impact immune responses. This intricacy extends beyond infectious and autoimmune diseases, affecting immune reactions post-transplantation.
High-throughput single cell sequencing offers a comprehensive view of immune cell types and statuses, and importantly, it deciphers the intricate interplay between cell activation and inhibition. This technique emerges as a vital instrument in immunological research, enabling deeper insights into the multifaceted nature of immune responses.
The immune system is composed of various cell types that work collaboratively to sense and respond to external stimuli and physiological changes, thereby safeguarding health. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology is pivotal in analyzing both innate and adaptive immune responses, and facilitate next-generation therapies for inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer.
The immune system operates through immune surveillance, defense, and regulation. These functions require a complex network of intricate interactions. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology excels in concurrently assessing various immune functions.
This was exemplified in COVID-19 research, where scRNA-seq provided a detailed cellular map of the peripheral immune response in severe cases. It uncovered the transformation in the phenotype of peripheral immune cells during COVID-19, including diverse genetic characteristics of heterogeneous interferon stimulation and the downregulation of HLA class II genes, among others.
Upon encountering diverse infectious agents, immune cells engage in critical biological processes including pathogen recognition, destruction, and antigen presentation. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology can identify new subgroups of immune cells, analyzing their molecular characteristics, dynamics, and functions during infection. This improves our understanding of infectious disease mechanisms and subsequent treatment strategies. For instance, scRNA-seq was employed to distinguish three distinct subpopulations of lung macrophages in tuberculosis patients, revealing their varied origins and adaptations to the disease’s unique microenvironments.
The immune system plays a vital role in transplant rejection and post-transplant infection, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology provides a tool for analyzing the complex immune regulatory network during transplant rejection and post-transplant infection.
In a case study, researchers used scRNA-seq technology to find that endothelial cells formed three different subpopulations: resting cells and two activated endothelial cell populations. A group of activated endothelial cells express Fc receptor pathway activation and Ig internalization genes. This expression pattern aligns with the pathological diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection, highlighting the utility of scRNA-seq in enhancing our understanding of transplant immunology.
Disruption or disturbance of the immune system’s dynamic balance and its normal function might lead to the development of autoimmune diseases. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) offers insights into the mechanisms of autoimmune diseases at the cellular level, aiding in the identification of novel therapeutic targets. Researchers used scRNA-seq to identify commonly expressed chemokine receptors in patients with lupus nephritis, highlighting them as potential targets for treatment.
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