Single-cell and spatial profiling highlights TB-induced myofibroblasts as drivers of lung pathology.

The Journal of experimental medicine
Authors
Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) typically causes lung destruction and fibrosis, leading to ∼1.3 million deaths annually. The cellular drivers of human TB immunopathology remain poorly defined. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics on lung tissues from TB-infected and TB-negative individuals, identifying 30 distinct immune, parenchymal, and stromal cell subsets. Several were linked to TB pathology and corroborated through immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and independent human datasets. Fibroblasts were identified as major drivers in both active TB granuloma and TB-diseased lung tissue. In particular, the MMP1+CXCL5+ fibroblast subset, expressing a myofibroblast-like gene signature, was associated with severe disease and higher bacterial burden in nonhuman primate granulomas. Network analyses revealed cross talk between MMP1+CXCL5+ fibroblasts and SPP1+ macrophages within the granuloma cuff, which has been reported in other disease contexts, and may play an important role in TB immunopathology. Our findings highlight previously unappreciated cell populations and potential targets for novel TB therapies.

Year of Publication
2026
Journal
The Journal of experimental medicine
Volume
223
Issue
3
Date Published
03/2026
ISSN
1540-9538
DOI
10.1084/jem.20251067
PubMed ID
41489684
Links