Cross-species single-cell analysis reveals divergence and conservation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Siyu Zhang,
Xiang Fang,
Mengyang Chang,
Ming Zheng,
Lijin Guo,
Yibin Xu,
Jingting Shu,
Qinghua Nie,
Zhenhui Li
Affiliations
Siyu Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University
Xiang Fang
Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong
Mengyang Chang
Institute of Aquatic Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University
Ming Zheng
State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University
Lijin Guo
State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University
Yibin Xu
State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University
Jingting Shu
Key Laboratory for Poultry Genetics and Breeding of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science
Qinghua Nie
State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University
Zhenhui Li
State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University
Abstract Background Single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revolutionized the study of immune cells by overcoming the limitations of traditional antibody-based identification and isolation methods. This advancement allows us to obtain comprehensive gene expression profiles from a diverse array of vertebrate species, facilitating the identification of various cell types. Comparative immunology across vertebrates presents a promising approach to understanding the evolution of immune cell types. In this study, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at the single-cell level across 12 species. Results Our findings shed light on the cellular compositional features of PBMCs, spanning from fish to mammals. Notably, we identified genes that exhibit vertebrate universality in characterizing immune cells. Moreover, our investigation revealed that monocytes have maintained a conserved transcriptional regulatory program throughout evolution, emphasizing their pivotal role in orchestrating immune cells to execute immune programs. Conclusions This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the evolution of immune cells across vertebrates.
