Single-cell RNA sequencing to explore composition of peripheral blood NK cells in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in treatment-free remission

Leuk Lymphoma. 2022 Nov;63(11):2604-2615. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2022.2086243. Epub 2022 Jun 11.

Abstract

This study was to explore the role of NK cell subsets and gene expression in maintaining TFR status. We identified six types of NK cells in the PBMCs over both groups (healthy controls and patients with TFR). Gene Oncology analysis showed that up regulated genes were enriched in the categories of "immune response," "reaction to tumor cells," and "cytolysis." In addition, we found that the three NK cell subsets, mature and terminal NK cells, CD56 bright NK cells, and transitional NK cells, contained many significantly up regulated genes in both groups, and that CD56 bright NK cells and transitional NK cells in patients with CML-TFR were in a proliferating and activated state. Through single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, we confirmed that the mature and terminal, CD56 bright, and transitional subsets of NK cells play an indispensable role in maintaining TFR in patients with CML.

Keywords: Chronic myelogenous leukemia; NK cell subtypes; single-cell RNA sequencing; treatment-free remission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD56 Antigen / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* / therapy
  • Remission Induction
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA

Substances

  • CD56 Antigen