Single-cell transcriptome profiling reveals enriched memory T-cell subpopulations in hypertension

Introduction: The adaptive immune response mediated by T cells plays a vital role in the initiation and maintenance of blood pressure (BP) elevation. Memory T cells, which are antigen-specific T cells, can respond specifically to repeated hypertensive stimuli. Although the roles of memory T cells in animal models are well studied, their maintenance and functions in hypertensive patients are poorly understood. Method: Here, we focused on the circulating memory T cells of hypertensive patients. By using single-cell RNA sequencing technology, subsets of memory T cells were identified. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functional pathways were explored for related biological functions in each population of memory T cells. Result and Discussion: Our study identified four subsets of memory T cells in the blood of hypertensive patients, with CD8 effector memory T (TEM) cells accounting for more cells and demonstrating more biological functions than CD4 TEM cells. CD8 TEM cells were further analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing technology, and subpopulation 1 was demonstrated to contribute to BP elevation. The key marker genes CKS2, PLIN2, and CNBP were identified and validated by mass-spectrum flow cytometry. Our data suggest that CD8 TEM cells as well as the marker genes could be preventive targets for patients with hypertensive cardiovascular disease.