The relationship between immune cell infiltration and necroptosis gene expression in sepsis: an analysis using single-cell transcriptomic data

BackgroundSepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. It remains a significant medical challenge due to its high mortality rates and requires a deeper understanding of its underlying mechanisms. This study aims to elucidate the differential exp...

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Main Author: Shouyi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1618438/full
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author Shouyi Wang
author_facet Shouyi Wang
author_sort Shouyi Wang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. It remains a significant medical challenge due to its high mortality rates and requires a deeper understanding of its underlying mechanisms. This study aims to elucidate the differential expression of necroptosis-related genes in sepsis and their impact on immune characteristics.MethodsWe obtained gene expression profiles and single-cell RNA sequencing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma package, and functional enrichment analysis was performed using the clusterProfiler package for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were conducted to explore pathway enrichments. Immune cell infiltration differences between sepsis (SE) and healthy control (HC) groups were quantified using the single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm. Differential marker genes between SE and HC groups were identified by single-cell data analysis using the Seurat and SingleR packages.ResultsOur results revealed 849 necroptosis-related DEGs, with 843 upregulated and 16 downregulated in the SE group. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression identified 22 key DEGs, including CTSS, MAPK8, and MPRIP. Among these, 157 necroptosis-related DEGs were consistently identified between SE and HC groups. GO analysis indicated significant enrichment in biological processes such as the regulation of apoptotic signaling pathways and IκB kinase/NF-κB signaling. KEGG pathway analysis revealed involvement in necroptosis, apoptosis, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways. GSVA demonstrated that Wnt signaling was upregulated in the SE group. Significant differences in immune cell infiltration were observed between sepsis and healthy control groups, particularly in activated B cells and CD4 T cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified 33,287 cells categorized into 26 clusters, with neutrophils predominating. Key necroptosis genes such as CTSS, TXN, MYH9, FPR1, FMR1, and MPRIP exhibited differential expression patterns across various immune cell types.ConclusionsOur integrated bioinformatics approach provides insights into the role of necroptosis-related genes in sepsis pathogenesis and their influence on immune responses. These findings improve our understanding of sepsis mechanisms and may guide future therapeutic strategies targeting necroptosis pathways.
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spelling doaj-art-be68d1b17aae4edb8bd5b1aa451fcb0a2025-08-20T03:41:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-08-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.16184381618438The relationship between immune cell infiltration and necroptosis gene expression in sepsis: an analysis using single-cell transcriptomic dataShouyi WangBackgroundSepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. It remains a significant medical challenge due to its high mortality rates and requires a deeper understanding of its underlying mechanisms. This study aims to elucidate the differential expression of necroptosis-related genes in sepsis and their impact on immune characteristics.MethodsWe obtained gene expression profiles and single-cell RNA sequencing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma package, and functional enrichment analysis was performed using the clusterProfiler package for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were conducted to explore pathway enrichments. Immune cell infiltration differences between sepsis (SE) and healthy control (HC) groups were quantified using the single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm. Differential marker genes between SE and HC groups were identified by single-cell data analysis using the Seurat and SingleR packages.ResultsOur results revealed 849 necroptosis-related DEGs, with 843 upregulated and 16 downregulated in the SE group. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression identified 22 key DEGs, including CTSS, MAPK8, and MPRIP. Among these, 157 necroptosis-related DEGs were consistently identified between SE and HC groups. GO analysis indicated significant enrichment in biological processes such as the regulation of apoptotic signaling pathways and IκB kinase/NF-κB signaling. KEGG pathway analysis revealed involvement in necroptosis, apoptosis, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways. GSVA demonstrated that Wnt signaling was upregulated in the SE group. Significant differences in immune cell infiltration were observed between sepsis and healthy control groups, particularly in activated B cells and CD4 T cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified 33,287 cells categorized into 26 clusters, with neutrophils predominating. Key necroptosis genes such as CTSS, TXN, MYH9, FPR1, FMR1, and MPRIP exhibited differential expression patterns across various immune cell types.ConclusionsOur integrated bioinformatics approach provides insights into the role of necroptosis-related genes in sepsis pathogenesis and their influence on immune responses. These findings improve our understanding of sepsis mechanisms and may guide future therapeutic strategies targeting necroptosis pathways.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1618438/fullsepsisnecroptosisimmune cell infiltrationsingle-cell RNA sequencingbioinformatics
spellingShingle Shouyi Wang
The relationship between immune cell infiltration and necroptosis gene expression in sepsis: an analysis using single-cell transcriptomic data
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
sepsis
necroptosis
immune cell infiltration
single-cell RNA sequencing
bioinformatics
title The relationship between immune cell infiltration and necroptosis gene expression in sepsis: an analysis using single-cell transcriptomic data
title_full The relationship between immune cell infiltration and necroptosis gene expression in sepsis: an analysis using single-cell transcriptomic data
title_fullStr The relationship between immune cell infiltration and necroptosis gene expression in sepsis: an analysis using single-cell transcriptomic data
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between immune cell infiltration and necroptosis gene expression in sepsis: an analysis using single-cell transcriptomic data
title_short The relationship between immune cell infiltration and necroptosis gene expression in sepsis: an analysis using single-cell transcriptomic data
title_sort relationship between immune cell infiltration and necroptosis gene expression in sepsis an analysis using single cell transcriptomic data
topic sepsis
necroptosis
immune cell infiltration
single-cell RNA sequencing
bioinformatics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1618438/full
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AT shouyiwang relationshipbetweenimmunecellinfiltrationandnecroptosisgeneexpressioninsepsisananalysisusingsinglecelltranscriptomicdata