Characteristic gene expression in the liver monocyte-macrophage-DC system is associated with the progression of fibrosis in NASH

The monocyte-macrophage-dendritic cell (DC) (MMD) system exerts crucial functions that may modulate fibrogenesis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We explored the cell characteristics, distribution and developmental trajectory of the liver MMD system in NASH mice with fibrosis using single-cell RNA sequensing (scRNA-seq). Overall design: Liver tissues of C57BL/6 mice were obtained from wild-type mice (N=2) and NASH mice with fibrosis (HFD+F+CCl4, N=3; WD+F+CCl4, N=3) and were transferred into a sterile RNase-free tube containing calcium-free and magnesium-free 1x phosphate buffered solution (PBS) on ice. Tissues were dissociated into single cells and analyzed using scRNA-seq.