Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Shows that Circulating Monocytes Enriched in IFN Signaling Are Associated with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Pulmonary Disease in Cystic Fibrosis.

This letter discusses a study that used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCFs) who have different stages of Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. The study identified 10 distinct cell populations within the PBMCs and found that there was no significant cellular variation among pwCFs with different risks of M. abscessus lung disease. However, the CD14+ monocyte cluster in the MABSC-PD group displayed the highest number of upregulated genes compared to other cellular clusters. The study suggests that single-cell transcriptomic profiling of PBMCs could be used to identify diagnostic signatures or therapeutic targets for pwCFs with NTM infection. [Extracted from the article]