International Journal of Frontiers in Medicine, 2024, 6(9); doi: 10.25236/IJFM.2024.060906.
Ning Zhang1,2, Luyu Yang2, Yayu Li2
1School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
2College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
Although it has been established that the principal cause of death in COVID-19-infected patients is pneumonia and respiratory failure, little is currently known about the effects of COVID-19 on the lungs. Herein, we performed a single-nucleus RNA sequencing analysis of COVID-19 cases and controls using the human lung tissue data. Spatial transcriptomics was combined with single-nucleus RNA sequencing of human lung tissue to identify the specific cell subpopulations in COVID-19 cases and controls. We mapped ligand-receptor networks to specific cell types by combining single-cell and spatial data. Mapping the results revealed that fibroblasts are at the center of intercellular communication. These findings characterize the lung subpopulations, including fibroblasts and epithelial cells, the spatial niches in which they interact and the COVID-19 gene networks involved.
COVID-19, Lung, Fibroblast cell, Spatial transcriptomics, Microenvironment, Cell communication
Ning Zhang, Luyu Yang, Yayu Li. Integrating spatial and mononuclear transcriptome data to elucidate pulmonary microenvironment and cell communication during COVID-19 infection. International Journal of Frontiers in Medicine (2024), Vol. 6, Issue 9: 35-44. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFM.2024.060906.
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