Single cell RNA seq reveals cellular and transcriptional heterogeneity in the splenic CD11b+Ly6Chigh monocyte population expanded in sepsis-surviving mice

Patients surviving a septic episode exhibit persistent immune impairment and increased mortality due to enhanced infection vulnerability. In the present study, using the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of polymicrobial sepsis, we addressed the hypothesis that functional, metabolic, and phenotypic alterations in splenic CD11b+Ly6Chigh myeloid cells contribute to the immune impairment in sepsis-surviving mice. Herein, we showed the cellular and transcriptional heterogeneity of the expanded splenic CD11b+Ly6Chigh population in CLP-survivors. We also showed that CD11b+Ly6Chigh cells presented phenotypic and functional disparity between C57BL6/J and BALB/c strains. Overall design: Six-Nine weeks of age Male C57BL/6 and Balb/c got surgeries and survivors after 4 weeks were euthanized. Splenic monocytes from CLP or sham-operated mice were isolated by negative selection, and CD11b+ Ly6C high populations were purified by Fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and analyzed by scRNA-seq. Two sham and three CLP mice in each strain were distinguished by cell hashing antibodies (Biolegend).