Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of the T Helper Cell Response to House Dust Mites Defines a Distinct Gene Expression Signature in Airway Th2 Cells

Tibbitt CA, Stark JM, Martens L, Ma J, Mold JE, Deswarte K, Oliynyk G, Feng X, Lambrecht BN, De Bleser P, Nylén S, Hammad H, Arsenian Henriksson M, Saeys Y, Coquet JM

Immunity 51 (1) 169-184.e5 [2019-06-00; online 2019-06-00]

Naive CD4 + T cells differentiate into functionally diverse T helper (Th) cell subsets. Th2 cells play a pathogenic role in asthma, yet a clear picture of their transcriptional profile is lacking. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of T helper cells from lymph node, lung, and airways in the house dust mite (HDM) model of allergic airway disease. scRNA-seq resolved transcriptional profiles of naive CD4+ T, Th1, Th2, regulatory T (Treg) cells, and a CD4+ T cell population responsive to type I interferons. Th2 cells in the airways were enriched for transcription of many genes, including Cd200r1, Il6, Plac8, and Igfbp7, and their mRNA profile was supported by analysis of chromatin accessibility and flow cytometry. Pathways associated with lipid metabolism were enriched in Th2 cells, and experiments with inhibitors of key metabolic pathways supported roles for glucose and lipid metabolism. These findings provide insight into the differentiation of pathogenic Th2 cells in the context of allergy.

Eukaryotic Single Cell Genomics (ESCG) [Service]

NGI Stockholm (Genomics Applications) [Service]

NGI Stockholm (Genomics Production) [Service]

National Genomics Infrastructure [Service]

PubMed 31231035

DOI 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.05.014

Crossref 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.05.014