Single cells and spatial RNA profiling reveal that inflammatory fibroblasts arise from Edil3 stromal cells in the colon after irradiation - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #radiation proctitis
- #fibroblasts
- #stromal cells
- Radiation proctitis is a severe inflammation of the colon that can occur after abdominopelvic radiotherapy, impairing quality of life.
- Using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, the study characterized colonic stromal cells, identifying a new subtype called 'mesitocytes' marked by Edil3.
- After irradiation, stromal cells become deregulated, with increased expression of genes related to immune response, angiogenesis, and epithelial regeneration.
- In ulcerated areas, Edil3 mesitocytes and telocytes disappear, replaced by inflammation-associated fibroblasts (IAFs) with a distinct transcriptomic profile.
- Cell fate analysis shows that IAFs primarily originate from Edil3 mesitocytes, and these IAFs interact with endothelial cells to influence disease progression.