# P-1768. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of cutaneous forms of chronic active Epstein–Barr virus disease

## TL;DR

This study uses single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze EBV-infected cells in skin-related chronic EBV diseases, revealing differences in cell maturity that may explain disease progression.

## Contribution

The study identifies EBV-infected cell populations and their immature transcriptional states in cutaneous CAEBV using single-cell RNA sequencing.

## Key findings

- EBV-infected cells in SMBA were found in earlier pseudo-time positions, indicating a more immature state.
- In progressing cases, EBV-positive cells were positioned earlier in the trajectory than in non-progressed cases.
- Single-cell RNA sequencing combined with EBV gene detection enabled detailed analysis of infected and uninfected cell profiles.

## Abstract

Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder (HV-LPD) and severe mosquito bite allergy (SMBA) are cutaneous forms of chronic active Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) disease (CAEBV) characterized by clonal proliferation of EBV-infected T or natural killer (NK) cells. SMBA and HV-LPD can progress to systemic CAEBV infection; however, their pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of patients with two types of cutaneous CAEBV.

This study included five patients with HV-LPD, four with SMBA, and two healthy adult controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from each patient and used for scRNA-seq. In five cases, the EBER gene was enriched to enhance the detection efficiency of EBV-infected cells. ScRNA-seq data were processed and analyzed using Cell Ranger and Seurat. Monocle3 was used for the trajectory analysis.

A total of 79,830 PBMCs were analyzed, with 2,233–13,487 cells per case. EBV gene expression was detected in 5,827 cells (SMBA; 4,343 cells, 12.7%, HV-LPD; 1,484 cells, 3.7%). In the SMBA cases, EBV-infected cells resided at earlier pseudo-time positions than uninfected cells, suggesting a more immature transcriptional state. Additionally, in cases that progressed to systemic CAEBV, EBV-positive cells were positioned earlier in the pseudo-time trajectory than in non-progressed cases.

By combining scRNA-seq analysis with EBV gene detection, EBV-infected cell populations were identified, and host gene expression profiles between infected and uninfected cells were compared at single-cell resolution. The accumulation of EBV-infected cells in transcriptionally immature states suggests a potential link between CAEBV progression.

All Authors: No reported disclosures