학술논문

Single-cell RNA-seq reveals cell type–specific molecular and genetic associations to lupus
Document Type
article
Source
Science. 376(6589)
Subject
Autoimmune Disease
Genetics
Lupus
Human Genome
2.1 Biological and endogenous factors
Aetiology
Inflammatory and immune system
Good Health and Well Being
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
Case-Control Studies
Humans
Interferon Type I
Leukocytes
Mononuclear
Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic
RNA-Seq
Transcription
Genetic
General Science & Technology
Language
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease. Knowledge of circulating immune cell types and states associated with SLE remains incomplete. We profiled more than 1.2 million peripheral blood mononuclear cells (162 cases, 99 controls) with multiplexed single-cell RNA sequencing (mux-seq). Cases exhibited elevated expression of type 1 interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in monocytes, reduction of naïve CD4+ T cells that correlated with monocyte ISG expression, and expansion of repertoire-restricted cytotoxic GZMH+ CD8+ T cells. Cell type-specific expression features predicted case-control status and stratified patients into two molecular subtypes. We integrated dense genotyping data to map cell type-specific cis-expression quantitative trait loci and to link SLE-associated variants to cell type-specific expression. These results demonstrate mux-seq as a systematic approach to characterize cellular composition, identify transcriptional signatures, and annotate genetic variants associated with SLE.