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A Single Cell Atlas of the COPD Lung Identifies Inflammatory Reprogramming in Fibroblasts
Lingling Dong1, Haipin Chen2, Fei Li3
1Geriatric Medicine Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Summary
Fibroblasts play a key role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by driving inflammation and tissue remodeling. Targeting fibroblast-centered pathways could offer new therapeutic strategies for COPD management.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves persistent inflammation, structural changes, and airflow limitation.
- The cellular mechanisms driving chronic inflammation and remodeling in COPD are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fibroblast-associated changes in COPD lung tissue.
- To define the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying fibroblast contributions to COPD pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Integrated single-cell transcriptomic data from healthy controls and COPD patients.
- Analyzed gene expression, intercellular communication, and transcription factor networks in lung fibroblasts.
Main Results:
- Fibroblasts showed increased outgoing signaling in COPD lungs.
- COPD fibroblasts adopted a shared pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory state.
- This state was linked to inflammation, tissue injury, fibrotic remodeling, and immune cell recruitment.
Conclusions:
- Fibroblasts are identified as crucial immunoregulatory cells in COPD.
- Fibroblast-driven inflammatory programs may sustain chronic inflammation and remodeling in COPD.
- Fibroblast-centered pathways represent potential therapeutic targets for COPD.
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