B cell subpopulations and their role in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren’s syndrome: insights from single-cell RNA sequencing

作者：Xiaoyu Zhang, Yuanwei Han, Jing Zhang, Yu Song, Yan Zhou, Jia Wang, Jinhai Tian, Xinran Xin, Bin Liu, Fang Li, Hong Zhu · 发表于：Frontiers in Immunology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3389/fimmu.2025.1665086 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions、Diabetes and associated disorders、Liver Diseases and Immunity

Objective: This study aims to investigate the potential role of B cells in the pathogenesis of Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) by analyzing cell types, differentially expressed genes, and associated signaling pathways using single-cell RNA sequencing. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 3 pSS patients and 3 healthy controls (HCs) were collected. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis was performed, including Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, transcription factor analysis, pseudotime analysis, cell communication analysis, and B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire analysis. Genes and pathways potentially involved in the pathogenesis of pSS were identified, and key genes were validated by qRT-PCR. Statistical significance was assessed using T-tests and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, with a p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Single-cell RNA sequencing of peripheral blood B cells from three patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and three healthy controls (HCs) identified three subpopulations: memory B (Bmem), naïve B (NaiveB), and plasma cells (PlasmaCells). In pSS, differentially expressed genes were enriched in Type I interferon signaling, antigen processing/presentation, and MHC class II binding. Transcription factors related to interferon responses, including NR2F6, IRF5, STAT2, and IRF9, were upregulated. Cell-cell communication analysis highlighted frequent interac...