The cellular architecture of the antimicrobial response network in human leprosy granulomas

F Ma, TK Hughes, RMB Teles, PR Andrade… - Nature …, 2021 - nature.com
Nature immunology, 2021nature.com
Granulomas are complex cellular structures composed predominantly of macrophages and
lymphocytes that function to contain and kill invading pathogens. Here, we investigated the
single-cell phenotypes associated with antimicrobial responses in human leprosy
granulomas by applying single-cell and spatial sequencing to leprosy biopsy specimens.
We focused on reversal reactions (RRs), a dynamic process whereby some patients with
disseminated lepromatous leprosy (L-lep) transition toward self-limiting tuberculoid leprosy …
Abstract
Granulomas are complex cellular structures composed predominantly of macrophages and lymphocytes that function to contain and kill invading pathogens. Here, we investigated the single-cell phenotypes associated with antimicrobial responses in human leprosy granulomas by applying single-cell and spatial sequencing to leprosy biopsy specimens. We focused on reversal reactions (RRs), a dynamic process whereby some patients with disseminated lepromatous leprosy (L-lep) transition toward self-limiting tuberculoid leprosy (T-lep), mounting effective antimicrobial responses. We identified a set of genes encoding proteins involved in antimicrobial responses that are differentially expressed in RR versus L-lep lesions and regulated by interferon-γ and interleukin-1β. By integrating the spatial coordinates of the key cell types and antimicrobial gene expression in RR and T-lep lesions, we constructed a map revealing the organized architecture of granulomas depicting compositional and functional layers by which macrophages, T cells, keratinocytes and fibroblasts can each contribute to the antimicrobial response.
nature.com