Overview

• Researchers employed single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics on patient blood and tissue samples to map immune cell landscapes in systemic sclerosis.
• EGR1-expressing CD14+ monocytes were enriched in scleroderma renal crisis patients and differentiated into THBS1+ macrophages at sites of kidney injury.
• CD8+ effector memory T cells with a type II interferon signature and chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR5 were elevated in blood and lung tissue of patients with progressive interstitial lung disease.
• Distinct immune signatures correlated with severe organ manifestations, suggesting their use as biomarkers for early detection and patient stratification.
• Published in Nature Communications on June 17, 2025, the study highlights targeted immune subsets as candidates for precision therapies to reduce fibrosis and organ damage.