Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics identify a macrophage population associated with skeletal muscle fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: The monocytic/macrophage system is essential for skeletal muscle homeostasis, but its dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of muscle degenerative disorders. Despite our increasing knowledge of the role of macrophages in degenerative disease, it still remains unclear how macrophages contribute to muscle fibrosis. Here, we used single-cell transcriptomics to determine the molecular attributes of dystrophic and healthy muscle macrophages. We identified six novel clusters. Unexpectedly, none corresponded to traditional definitions of M1 or M2 macrophage activation. Rather, the predominant macrophage signature in dystrophic muscle was characterized by high expression of fibrotic factors, galectin-3 and spp1. Spatial transcriptomics and computational inferences of intercellular communic

SUBMITTER: Coulis G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10153153 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature