Global Immunometabolic Profiling of AECOPD

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a major public health issue. In the study, mass cytometry is used with extensive antibody panels to perform in-depth immune profiling of samples from patients with AECOPD, acute lung infection(AI) and healthy controls. Immune composition of 11 populations including CD4/CD8 T cells, B cells, NK cells, and others is identified. Significantly, 7 T cell subsets are changed among the three groups. Then RNA sequencing at single cell level is further processed to provide a detailed peripheral T cell immunity of AECOPD. Combined analysis suggests that dysfunctional effector T cells in AECOPD are characterized with suppressed mitochondria, dampened mTOR activity, and IFN-gamma production. Furthermore, targeting mTOR pathway synergized the PD-1 blockade therapy promotes T cell glycolysis and IFN-gamma production. The study presents an in-depth immunometabolic atlas of AECOPD.