American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Dec 2023
Spatial Transcriptomics Resolve an Emphysema-specific Lymphoid Follicle B Cell Signature in COPD.
Within chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema is characterized by a significant yet partially understood B cell immune component. ⋯ An off-targeted B cell activation within LFs is associated with autoimmune-mediated emphysema pathogenesis.
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Rationale: Despite the importance of inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the immune cell landscape in the lung tissue of patients with mild-moderate disease has not been well characterized at the single-cell and molecular level. Objectives: To define the immune cell landscape in lung tissue from patients with mild-moderate COPD at single-cell resolution. Methods: We performed single-cell transcriptomic, proteomic, and T-cell receptor repertoire analyses on lung tissue from patients with mild-moderate COPD (n = 5, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease I or II), emphysema without airflow obstruction (n = 5), end-stage COPD (n = 2), control (n = 6), or donors (n = 4). ⋯ Human CD8+KLRG1+ TEMRA cells are similar to CD8+ T cells driving inflammation in an aging-related murine model of COPD. Conclusions: CD8+ TEMRA cells are increased in mild-moderate COPD lung and may contribute to inflammation that precedes severe disease. Further study of these CD8+ T cells may have therapeutic implications for preventing severe COPD.