Single-cell profiling of T/NK cell glycosylation and interaction networks during liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is a complex disease characterized by chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation, which leads to the progressive development of liver fibrosis. Glycosylation, as a critical post-translational modification, plays a pivotal role in regulating immune cell functions. However, its specific role in T/NK cells during the progression of cirrhosis remains insufficiently understood.

This study integrates single-cell transcriptomics and glycosylation profiling to investigate changes in glycosylation-related gene expression and cellular interactions in T/NK cells from cirrhotic versus healthy liver tissues. We systematically evaluated immune cell composition, glycosylation alterations, and intercellular communication networks to elucidate the mechanisms underlying immune dysregulation in cirrhosis.

Significant alterations in glycosylation patterns and gene expression profiles were observed in T/NK cells from cirrhotic livers. These changes were associated with shifts in immune cell subsets and enhanced cell-cell interactions, suggesting that glycosylation modifications may play a role in modulating immune responses.

Our findings underscore the importance of glycosylation dynamics in the functional regulation of T/NK cells during liver cirrhosis. Targeting glycosylation pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies to address immune imbalance and fibrosis in cirrhosis.