Adaptation in human immune cells residing in tissues at the frontline of infections

Abstract Human immune cells are under constant evolutionary pressure, primarily through their role as first line of defence against pathogens. Most studies on immune adaptation are, however, based on protein-coding genes without considering their cellular context. Here, using data from the Human Cel...

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Main Authors: Irepan Salvador-Martínez, Jesus Murga-Moreno, Juan C. Nieto, Clara Alsinet, David Enard, Holger Heyn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54603-5
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author Irepan Salvador-Martínez
Jesus Murga-Moreno
Juan C. Nieto
Clara Alsinet
David Enard
Holger Heyn
author_facet Irepan Salvador-Martínez
Jesus Murga-Moreno
Juan C. Nieto
Clara Alsinet
David Enard
Holger Heyn
author_sort Irepan Salvador-Martínez
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Human immune cells are under constant evolutionary pressure, primarily through their role as first line of defence against pathogens. Most studies on immune adaptation are, however, based on protein-coding genes without considering their cellular context. Here, using data from the Human Cell Atlas, we infer the gene adaptation rate of the human immune landscape at cellular resolution. We find abundant cell types, like progenitor cells during development and adult cells in barrier tissues, to harbour significantly increased adaptation rates. We confirm the adaptation of tissue-resident T and NK cells in the adult lung located in compartments directly facing external challenges, such as respiratory pathogens. Analysing human iPSC-derived macrophages responding to various challenges, we find adaptation in early immune responses. Together, our study suggests host benefits to control pathogen spread at early stages of infection, providing a retrospect of forces that shaped the complexity, architecture, and function of the human body.
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publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-a5ee579328c6429ea1cc1477e98c2c7b2025-08-20T02:08:20ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-0115111510.1038/s41467-024-54603-5Adaptation in human immune cells residing in tissues at the frontline of infectionsIrepan Salvador-Martínez0Jesus Murga-Moreno1Juan C. Nieto2Clara Alsinet3David Enard4Holger Heyn5CNAG, Centro Nacional de Análisis GenómicoDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of ArizonaCNAG, Centro Nacional de Análisis GenómicoCNAG, Centro Nacional de Análisis GenómicoDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of ArizonaCNAG, Centro Nacional de Análisis GenómicoAbstract Human immune cells are under constant evolutionary pressure, primarily through their role as first line of defence against pathogens. Most studies on immune adaptation are, however, based on protein-coding genes without considering their cellular context. Here, using data from the Human Cell Atlas, we infer the gene adaptation rate of the human immune landscape at cellular resolution. We find abundant cell types, like progenitor cells during development and adult cells in barrier tissues, to harbour significantly increased adaptation rates. We confirm the adaptation of tissue-resident T and NK cells in the adult lung located in compartments directly facing external challenges, such as respiratory pathogens. Analysing human iPSC-derived macrophages responding to various challenges, we find adaptation in early immune responses. Together, our study suggests host benefits to control pathogen spread at early stages of infection, providing a retrospect of forces that shaped the complexity, architecture, and function of the human body.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54603-5
spellingShingle Irepan Salvador-Martínez
Jesus Murga-Moreno
Juan C. Nieto
Clara Alsinet
David Enard
Holger Heyn
Adaptation in human immune cells residing in tissues at the frontline of infections
Nature Communications
title Adaptation in human immune cells residing in tissues at the frontline of infections
title_full Adaptation in human immune cells residing in tissues at the frontline of infections
title_fullStr Adaptation in human immune cells residing in tissues at the frontline of infections
title_full_unstemmed Adaptation in human immune cells residing in tissues at the frontline of infections
title_short Adaptation in human immune cells residing in tissues at the frontline of infections
title_sort adaptation in human immune cells residing in tissues at the frontline of infections
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54603-5
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