Multiplatform Single-Cell Analysis Identifies Immune Cell Types Enhanced in Pulmonary Fibrosis

Immune cells have been implicated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but the phenotypes and effector mechanisms of these cells remain incompletely characterized. We performed mass cytometry to quantify immune cell subsets in lungs of 12 patients with IPF and 15 organ donors without chronic lung disease and used existing single-cell RNA-sequencing data to investigate transcriptional profiles of immune cells overrepresented in IPF. Among myeloid cells, we found increased numbers of alveolar macrophages (AMOs) and dendritic cells (DCs) in IPF, as well as a subset of monocyte-derived DCs. In contrast, monocyte-like cells and interstitial macrophages were reduced in IPF. Transcriptomic profiling identified an enrichment for IFN-gamma response pathways in AMOs and DCs from IPF, as well as antigen processing in DCs and phagocytosis in AMOs. Among T cells, we identified three subsets of memory T cells that were increased in IPF, including CD4(+) and CD8(+) resident memory T cells (T-RM) and CD8(+) effector memory cells. The response to the IFN-gamma pathway was enriched in CD4 T-RM and CD8 T-RM cells in IPF, together with T cell activation and immune response+regulating signaling pathways. Increased AMOs, DCs, and memory T cells were present in IPF lungs compared with control subjects. In IPF, these cells possess an activation profile indicating increased IFN-gamma signaling and upregulation of adaptive immunity in the lungs. Together, these studies highlight critical features of the immunopathogenesis of IPF.

Automated summary

By studying immune cell subsets and transcriptional profiles, this research reveals increased and activated immune cells in the lungs of IPF patients, indicating the importance of IFN-γ signaling and adaptive immunity in the pathogenesis of IPF.