Molecular landscape of CD8+ T cells in pure red cell aplasia

Abstract

The aberrant function of lymphocytes is considered a significant contributing factor to pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), but the precise mechanism by which T lymphocytes induce erythroid development stagnation remains unclear. In our study, the CD8⁺ T lymphocytes were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of acquired PRCA patients and healthy controls. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to analyze gene expression profiles. Additionally, the expression levels of key molecules and transcription factors were assessed at the transcription and protein levels. The RNA-Seq analysis revealed a significant upregulation of genes associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in CD8⁺ T lymphocytes from patients with PRCA, compared to healthy controls. The mRNA expression of AKT, mTOR and key transcription factors T-bet were significantly upregulated in CD8⁺ T cells from patients with PRCA. Treatment with rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, attenuated the activation of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in PRCA patients. Our findings demonstrate the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in CD8⁺ T lymphocytes of PRCA patients, suggesting its involvement in PRCA pathogenesis. Targeting this pathway may offer a potential therapeutic strategy for PRCA characterized by CD8⁺ T cell dysregulation.