CITEseq of hepatic CD4+ T cells from healthy mice and mice with steatohepatitis

ABSTRACT: Unresolved inflammation and fibrosis are the two key features of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a progressive form of steatotic liver disease that can evolve into cirrhosis and liver cancer. To better understand the role of CD4⁺ T cells in the pathogenesis of MASH, we comprehensively characterized hepatic CD4⁺ T cells in murine MASH at a single-cell protein and transcriptional level. CITE-sequencing revealed a marked shift in intrahepatic CD4⁺ T-cell composition in MASH, with enrichment of Th1, regulatory, and cytotoxic CD4⁺ T cells. Transcriptomic profiling also identified Tnfrsf4 (OX40) upregulation in hepatic CD4⁺ T cells during MASH. Together, these studies provide a proteogenomic single-cell atlas for hepatic CD4⁺ T cells and uncover a CD4⁺ T cell-dependent immunopathogenic circuit as a promising immunotherapeutic target to alleviate MASH and liver fibrosis.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE301733 | GEO | 2026/05/18

REPOSITORIES: GEO