Immune-cell signatures of persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome after sepsis

CD47-amyloid-β-CD74 signaling triggers adaptive immunosuppression in sepsis

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. However, how this dysregulation occurs remains to be elucidated. In this study, we use single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and conventional RNA-seq to analyze the immune landscape of sepsis and observe that adaptive immunity is acutely and strongly suppressed. This systemic immunosuppression occurs not only in the peripheral blood but also in all other immune compartments, including the spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. Clinical data show that these adaptive immunity-related genes may have the potential to be used to distinguish patients with sepsis from those with common infections. CD47 is found to play a pivotal role in this immunosuppression by inducing the production of amyloid-β (Aβ), which interacts with CD74 on B cells, leading to B-cell suppression and subsequent adaptive immunosuppression. Blocking CD47-Aβ signaling significantly reduces organ injury and improves the survival rate of septic mice by restoring phagocytic cell functions and alleviating B-cell suppression and adaptive immunosuppression.