Single-cell analysis of peripheral blood from high-altitude pulmonary hypertension patients identifies a distinct monocyte phenotype
Xinhua Wu, Yangyang He, Zhangrong Chen, Ze-Yuan He, Yi Yan, Yangzhige He, Guangming Wang, Yu Dong, Ying Yang, Yimin Sun, Yonghong Ren, Qiuyan Zhao, Xiaodan Yang, Liying Wang, Cai-Jun Fu, Miao He, Si-Jin Zhang, Ji-Fen Fu, Hong Liu, Zhi‐Cheng Jing
Abstract
Immune and inflammatory responses have an important function in the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, little is known about the immune landscape in peripheral circulation in patients with high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH). We apply single-cell transcriptomics to characterize the monocytes that are significantly enriched in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of HAPH patients. We discover an increase in C1 (non-classical) and C2 (intermediate) monocytes in PBMCs and a decrease in hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1α (HIF-1α) in all monocyte subsets associated with HAPH. In addition, we demonstrate that similar immune adaptations may exist in HAPH and PH. Overall, we characterize an immune cell atlas of the peripheral blood in HAPH patients. Our data provide evidence that specific monocyte subsets and HIF-1α downregulation might be implicated in the pathogenesis of HAPH.