Identification of Genes Associated with Decreasing Abundance of Monocytes in Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Yinghui Zhang,1 Yanhua Jin,1 Huan Wang,1 Long He,2 Yanning Zhang,1 Qi Liu,1 Yu Xin,1 Xueyu Li3 1Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Organ Transplant Center, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Nursing Department, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xueyu Li, Nursing Department, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110016, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +18909882688, Email lxy_dr@163.com Yanning Zhang, Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110016, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +18604105316, Email 18604105316@163.comPurpose: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) will become an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at stage 5. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is required for renal replacement therapy. This study aims to identify monocytes-related genes in peritoneal cells from long-term PD (LPD) patients and short-term PD (SPD) patients.Methods: Bulk RNA-seq data (GSE125498 dataset) and ScRNA-seq data (GSE130888) were downloaded to identify differentially expressed genes, monocytes-related genes, and monocytes marker genes in LPD patients. Immune infiltration was analyzed in the GSE125498 dataset. Core genes associated with monocytes changes were screened out, followed by functional analysis and expression validation using RT-PCR.Results: Monocytes are the most abundant immune cell in PD. The number of monocytes was remarkably decreased in LPD compared with SPD. A total of 16 up-regulated core genes negatively correlated with the abundance of monocytes were obtained in LPD. The expression of 16 core genes was lower in monocyte clusters than that in other cell clusters. In addition, LCK, CD3G, CD3E, CD3D, and LAT were involved in the signaling pathways of Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, T cell receptor signaling pathway, and Th17 cell differentiation. CD2 was involved in hematopoietic cell lineage signaling pathway.Conclusion: Identification of monocytes related-genes and related signaling pathways could be helpful in understanding the molecular mechanism of monocytes changes during PD.Keywords: long-term peritoneal dialysis, short-term peritoneal dialysis, monocytes, peritoneal cells, single-cell sequencing, signaling pathway