Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals telocytes subsets of human lung

Background

Telocyte (TC) is a recently defined renewed cell and its dominant intercommunication with other cells displays multiple functions in tissue homeostasis and diseases. Alveolar epithelial cells and immune cells were in the lung cancer heterogeneity, progression, and metastasis, and further associated with antitumor therapeutic strategies. However, few studies focus on the roles of TCs in lung cancer.

Methods

In this article, we used the public scRNA-Seq data (including healthy control, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, non–small cell lung cancer, lymph node metastases from non–small cell lung cancer, and systemic sclerosis–associated interstitial lung disease patients) to analyze the cellular dynamics in human lung and distinct types of TCs and their communication networks with the variety of cell types.

Results

Six subclusters of TCs were identified by expression of specific biological function markers, which demonstrated the diversity of TCs subsets in lung tissue. Further results showed TCs had communication with epithelial cells or immune cells subsets by the ligand–receptor interaction, including TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1CD63, fibulin 1integrin subunit beta 1, vimentinCD44, macrophage migration inhibitory factorCD74, and amyloid beta precursor proteinCD74. Ligand–receptor interaction heterogeneity was revealed in lung tissue of healthy or diseases. Enhanced specific signals in ligandreceptor interaction were revealed, including integrin beta 1 and CD44 were appraised in the communication of TCs with epithelial cells, NK cells, NKT cells, CD4⁺ exhausted T cells, CD4⁺ memory/effector T cells, CD4⁺ naïve T cells, CD8⁺ exhausted T cells, CD8⁺ memory/effector T cells, and CD8⁺ naïve T cells. CD63, a marker identified in TCs exosomes was emphasized in our current analysis which is closely related to communication of TCs with other cell types.

Conclusion

These results will provide us with new insight into the mechanisms of TCs-dominated communication and promise therapy of TC exosomes in lung diseases.