Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Deconstructs the Distribution of Immune Cells Within Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Mice

Inflammation is a key component in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), yet insights into the roles of immune cells and their interactions in this process are limited.

Using single-cell RNA transcriptomic analysis, we deconstructed the CD45⁺ cell population in elastase-induced murine AAA at the single-cell level. We isolated each group of immune cells from murine AAA tissue at different time points and divided them into several subtypes, listed the remarkable differentially expressed genes, explored the developmental trajectories of immune cells, and demonstrated the interactions among them.

Our findings reveal significant differences in several immune cell subsets, including macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells, within the AAA microenvironment compared with the normal aorta. Especially, conventional dendritic cell type 1 exclusively existed in the AAA tissue rather than the normal aortas. Via CellChat analysis, we identified several intercellular communication pathways like visfatin, which targets monocyte differentiation and neutrophil extracellular trap-mediated interaction between neutrophils and dendritic cells, which might contribute to AAA development. Some of these pathways were validated in human AAA.

Despite the absence of external pathogenic stimuli, AAA tissues develop a complex inflammatory microenvironment involving numerous immune cells. In-depth studies of the inflammatory network shall provide new strategies for patients with AAA.