Th2 single-cell heterogeneity and clonal distribution at distant sites in helminth-infected mice
- University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
Abstract
Th2 cells provide effector functions in type 2 immune responses to helminths and allergens. Despite knowledge about molecular mechanisms of Th2 cell differentiation, there is little information on Th2 cell heterogeneity and clonal distribution between organs. To address this, we performed combined single-cell transcriptome and TCR clonotype analysis on murine Th2 cells in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and lung after infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) as a human hookworm infection model. We find organ-specific expression profiles, but also populations with conserved migration or effector/resident memory signatures that unexpectedly cluster with potentially regulatory Il10posFoxp3neg cells. A substantial MLN subpopulation with an interferon response signature suggests a role for interferon-signaling in Th2 differentiation or diversification. Further RNA-inferred developmental directions indicate proliferation as a hub for differentiation decisions. Although the TCR repertoire is highly heterogeneous, we identified expanded clones and CDR3 motifs. Clonal relatedness between distant organs confirmed effective exchange of Th2 effector cells, although locally expanded clones dominated the response. We further cloned an Nb-specific TCR from an expanded clone in the lung effector cluster and describe surface markers that distinguish transcriptionally defined clusters. These results provide insights in Th2 cell subset diversity and clonal relatedness in distant organs.
Data availability
Single-cell RNA sequencing data is available via GEO with the ID GSE181342
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Th2 single-cell heterogeneity and clonal interorgan distribution in helminth-infected miceNCBI Gene Expression Omnibus, GSE181342.
Article and author information
Author details
Funding
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (RTG1660)
- David Voehringer
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR2599_TP4)
- David Voehringer
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (TRR130_TP20)
- David Voehringer
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Ethics
Animal experimentation: All experiments were performed in accordance with German animal protection law and European Union guidelines 86/809 and were approved by the Federal Government of Lower Franconia.
Copyright
© 2022, Radtke et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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Th2 single-cell heterogeneity and clonal distribution at distant sites in helminth-infected mice
eLife 11:e74183.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.74183
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