GUTImage from the paper by Xu et al entitled.

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HepatitisB HBV

Background Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterised by intense systemic inflammation and high short-term mortality, yet effective targeted therapies are lacking.

Objective To explore monocyte heterogeneity in HBV-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF) to identify specific subsets and associated therapeutic targets.

Design Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy controls (n=4), patients with acute decompensation (n=5), and patients with ACLF (n=9) underwent single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Findings were integrated with hepatic scRNA-seq, bulk transcriptomics, multiplex immunohistochemistry and in vitro functional assays. The in vivo roles of candidate targets were validated in two murine ACLF models.

Results We identified a distinct RETN+ monocyte subset that was expanded in the circulation and liver of patients with HBV-ACLF.