scRNA-seq of the mouse spleen about cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway

Purpose: The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is an immune response mediated by the nervous system. CD4 positive T cells, macrophages, and alpha 7 nAChRs are known to be essential in this pathway, but this signal transduction has not been demonstrated in vivo. The aim of this study is to identify the cells and genes that receive cholinergic signals via alpha 7 nAChR in the spleen. Methods: Spleens removed from wild-type mice (10 weeks old, C57BL6J, male mice) treated with GTS-21 (20mg/kg) with or without LPS (5mg/kg) 4 hours. Then scRNA-seq was performed. Results: GTS-21 or LPS treatment did not alter the proportion of splenocytes or the gene expressions in macrophages. Ligand-receptor analysis revealed increased ligand-receptor pairs between macrophages. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that cholinergic signals via alpha 7nAChR is increases macrophage-macrophage interactions in the spleen and exerts anti-inflammatory effects.