Integrating single-cell RNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq, and Mendelian randomization to elucidate the role of HLA-DPA1 expression levels and non-classical monocytes in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract

Aberrant immune and inflammatory responses are critical in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Thus, investigating immune-related therapeutic targets of IPAH is imperative. By integrating single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), and single-cell eQTL (sc-eQTL) data, we identified a non-classical monocyte (NCM)-specific gene that was causally linked to PAH. NCM were classified into three subgroups based on HLA-DPA1 expression: negative, low, and high expression groups. We analyzed intercellular communication, molecular mechanisms, biological processes and assessed the metabolic activity of three subgroups. Additionally, we obtained bulk RNA-seq from lung tissue and Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) transcriptional profiles of IPAH patients to explore HLA-DPA1's functions. We demonstrated that IPAH patients had higher proportions of monocytes and NCM in peripheral blood compared to healthy controls. rs13203715 was causally associated with PAH and downregulated HLA-DPA1 expression in NCM. Differentially expressed genes in three subpopulations were enriched in immune and inflammatory responses. Additionally, HLA-DPA1 expression correlated with immune and inflammatory disruptions in IPAH. In conclusion，HLA-DPA1 exhibited significant downregulation and loss in the NCM of IPAH patients, which was closely associated with disease exacerbation by promoting immune dysregulation and vascular remodeling.

Keywords: HLA-DPA1; Idiopathic pulmonary hypertension; Mendelian randomization; Non-classical monocytes; scRNA-seq.