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Updated: May 27, 2026
A Data-Driven Approach to Quantifying Immune States in Sepsis
Published on: February 7, 2025
Analysis of B cell dynamic changes and pivotal drivers based on single-cell transcriptome of peripheral blood in
Xiuming Zhuo1, Gangren Jian1, Hongyi Chen1
1Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University; Department of Emergency, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency Medicine, China.
Background:
Sepsis mortality stems from infection-triggered immune dysregulation, causing multiple organ dysfunction. B cells, key to adaptive immunity, protect against infection and regulate inflammation through antibodies, cytokines, and cell signaling. Their dysfunction is linked to sepsis outcomes, but their dynamic differentiation and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.
Methods:
Integrated single-cell B-cell trajectory analysis from four GEO datasets identified key fate regulators. Sepsis diagnostic hub genes were screened via XGBoost and LASSO, with subsequent immune and pathway analysis.
Results:
Compared to healthy controls, sepsis patients showed a shift in B cell composition, with fewer naïve B cells and more early activated B cells, along with disrupted differentiation paths. Six hub genes (DDX17, SLC2A3, RPS4X, PCBP2, S100A9, PFDN5) demonstrated strong diagnostic value for sepsis. Notably, RPS4X was highly expressed in healthy individuals and correlated with higher B cell levels. These genes were primarily associated with DNA repair, oxidative phosphorylation, and IL6-JAK-STAT3 signaling pathways.
Conclusions:
The six B cell-associated hub genes-DDX17, SLC2A3, RPS4X, PCBP2, S100A9, and PFDN5-hold promise as potential biomarkers for sepsis diagnosis and targeted therapy.
