A High Dimensionality Approach Reveals Immunopathogenic Responses Driving Severe Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

By employing a high dimensionality approach, this study aims to identify mechanistically relevant cellular immune pathways contributing to the pediatric acutre respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). Plasma and respiratory samples were studied during the acute phase of PARDS. Transcriptomic and proteomic approaches were employed to identify dysregulated immune pathways in the lung using NanoString and flow cytometry. Validation studies were then performed using single-cell RNA sequencing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mass cytometry was used to identify dysregulated immune pathways in the systemic circulation. Lastly, an in vitro cell culture model was used to study underlying mechanisms leading to the identified dysregulated pathways.