# Integrated Single-Cell Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals That a CD8+ TPex–Monocyte Interaction Axis Coordinates Immune Infiltration in Alzheimer’s Disease

**Authors:** Yusen Zhao, Xinrong Li, Wenbo Dong, Hongbo Zhu, Shuangshuang Wang, Manyi Xu, Yongle Xu, Mengmeng Liu, Junjie Duan, Yujie Liu, Wei Feng, Shangwei Ning, Hui Zhi

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/ijms27041783 · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2026-02-12

## TL;DR

This study uses single-cell data to uncover how immune cells interact in Alzheimer's disease, revealing a new pathway involving CD8+ T cells and monocytes that may help explain immune infiltration.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel CD8+ TPex–monocyte interaction axis that coordinates immune infiltration in Alzheimer’s disease.

## Key findings

- CD8+ TEMRA cells in cerebrospinal fluid may originate from blood-derived CD8+ TPex cells.
- CD8+ TPex cells activate monocytes via MIF signals, increasing inflammatory factors like IL1B and ICAM1.
- These inflammatory signals disrupt the blood-brain barrier, promoting immune cell infiltration in AD.

## Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major public health issue, and the role of peripheral immunity in its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. This study conducted a comprehensive reanalysis of publicly available single-cell transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility datasets to investigate immune cell dynamics in AD. By integrating data from cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood samples, we constructed a cross-tissue immune cell atlas. Based on Monocle3 pseudotemporal trajectory analysis, we propose the hypothesis that CD8+ TEMRA cells in the cerebrospinal fluid may originate from blood-derived CD8+ TPex cells. Furthermore, cell–cell communication analysis revealed a potential interaction mechanism whereby CD8+ TPex cells secrete MIF signals to activate monocytes, prompting them to release increased levels of inflammatory factors (IL1B) and adhesion molecules (ICAM1). These inflammatory factors collectively contribute to the disruption of the blood–brain barrier, thereby facilitating immune cell infiltration. Our reanalysis provides a novel interpretation of existing data, establishes a regulatory framework for understanding immune infiltration in AD.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor), IL1B (interleukin 1 beta), ICAM1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1)
- **Diseases:** Alzheimer’s disease (MONDO:0004975)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** NKG7 (natural killer cell granule protein 7) [NCBI Gene 4818] {aka GIG1, GMP-17, p15-TIA-1}, MZB1 (marginal zone B and B1 cell specific protein) [NCBI Gene 51237] {aka MEDA-7, PACAP, pERp1}, CEBPE (CCAAT enhancer binding protein epsilon) [NCBI Gene 1053] {aka C/EBP-epsilon, CRP1, IMD108, SGD1, c/EBP epsilon}, F3 (coagulation factor III, tissue factor) [NCBI Gene 2152] {aka CD142, TF, TFA}, NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3) [NCBI Gene 114548] {aka AGTAVPRL, AII, AVP, C1orf7, CIAS1, CLR1.1}, CD79B (CD79b molecule) [NCBI Gene 974] {aka AGM6, B29, IGB, Igbeta}, CD8A (CD8 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 925] {aka CD8, CD8alpha, IMD116, Leu2, p32}, CISH (cytokine inducible SH2 containing protein) [NCBI Gene 1154] {aka BACTS2, CIS, CIS-1, G18, SOCS}, GZMA (granzyme A) [NCBI Gene 3001] {aka CTLA3, HFSP}, THBS1 (thrombospondin 1) [NCBI Gene 7057] {aka THBS, THBS-1, TSP, TSP-1, TSP1}, TAGLN (transgelin) [NCBI Gene 6876] {aka SM22, SM22-alpha, SMCC, TAGLN1, TGLN, WS3-10}, GZMK (granzyme K) [NCBI Gene 3003] {aka GrK, TRYP2}, CD14 (CD14 molecule) [NCBI Gene 929], CD69 (CD69 molecule) [NCBI Gene 969] {aka AIM, BL-AC/P26, CLEC2C, EA1, GP32/28, MLR-3}, FCGR3A (Fc gamma receptor IIIa) [NCBI Gene 2214] {aka CD16-II, CD16A, FCG3, FCGR3, FCRIIIA, FcGRIIIA}, SELP (selectin P) [NCBI Gene 6403] {aka CD62, CD62P, GMP140, GRMP, LECAM3, PADGEM}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4}, MS4A1 (membrane spanning 4-domains A1) [NCBI Gene 931] {aka B1, Bp35, CD20, CVID5, FMC7, LEU-16}, CD19 (CD19 molecule) [NCBI Gene 930] {aka B4, CVID3}, PDE4B (phosphodiesterase 4B) [NCBI Gene 5142] {aka DPDE4, PDEIVB}, LGR5 (leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5) [NCBI Gene 8549] {aka FEX, GPR49, GPR67, GRP49, HG38}, JUNB (JunB proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) [NCBI Gene 3726] {aka AP-1}, TARDBP (TAR DNA binding protein) [NCBI Gene 23435] {aka ALS10, TDP-43}, RORA (RAR related orphan receptor A) [NCBI Gene 6095] {aka IDDECA, NR1F1, ROR1, ROR2, ROR3, RORa1}, EBI3 (Epstein-Barr virus induced 3) [NCBI Gene 10148] {aka IL-27B, IL27B, IL35B}, PSEN1 (presenilin 1) [NCBI Gene 5663] {aka ACNINV3, AD3, CMD1U, FAD, PS-1, PS1}, HBA2 (hemoglobin subunit alpha 2) [NCBI Gene 3040] {aka ECYT7, HBA-T2, HBH}, ITGAX (integrin subunit alpha X) [NCBI Gene 3687] {aka CD11C, SLEB6}, CXCR4 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 7852] {aka CD184, D2S201E, FB22, HM89, HSY3RR, LCR1}, CD74 (CD74 molecule) [NCBI Gene 972] {aka CLIP, DHLAG, HLADG, II, Ia-GAMMA, p33}, DUSP2 (dual specificity phosphatase 2) [NCBI Gene 1844] {aka PAC-1, PAC1}, IL3RA (interleukin 3 receptor subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 3563] {aka CD123, IL-3R-alpha, IL3R, IL3RAY, IL3RX, IL3RY}, GSTM1 (glutathione S-transferase mu 1) [NCBI Gene 2944] {aka GST1, GSTM1-1, GSTM1a-1a, GSTM1b-1b, GTH4, GTM1}, HBA1 (hemoglobin subunit alpha 1) [NCBI Gene 3039] {aka ECYT7, HBA-T3, HBH, METHBA}, GZMB (granzyme B) [NCBI Gene 3002] {aka C11, CCPI, CGL-1, CGL1, CSP-B, CSPB}, CCL4 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 4) [NCBI Gene 6351] {aka ACT2, AT744.1, G-26, HC21, LAG-1, LAG1}, RGS1 (regulator of G protein signaling 1) [NCBI Gene 5996] {aka 1R20, BL34, HEL-S-87, IER1, IR20}, CD3D (CD3 delta subunit of T-cell receptor complex) [NCBI Gene 915] {aka CD3-DELTA, CD3DELTA, IMD19, T3D}, MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor) [NCBI Gene 4282] {aka GIF, GLIF, MMIF}, ITGA2B (integrin subunit alpha 2b) [NCBI Gene 3674] {aka BDPLT16, BDPLT2, CD41, CD41B, FMAIT2, GP2B}, CXCR6 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 6) [NCBI Gene 10663] {aka BONZO, CD186, CDw186, STRL33, TYMSTR}, FOS (Fos proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) [NCBI Gene 2353] {aka AP-1, C-FOS, p55}, JUN (Jun proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit) [NCBI Gene 3725] {aka AP-1, AP1, c-Jun, cJUN, p39}, CCR7 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 7) [NCBI Gene 1236] {aka BLR2, CC-CKR-7, CCR-7, CD197, CDw197, CMKBR7}, DDIT4 (DNA damage inducible transcript 4) [NCBI Gene 54541] {aka Dig2, REDD-1, REDD1}, KDR (kinase insert domain receptor) [NCBI Gene 3791] {aka CD309, FLK1, VEGFR, VEGFR2}, CD44 (CD44 molecule (IN blood group)) [NCBI Gene 960] {aka CDW44, CSPG8, ECM-III, ECMR-III, H-CAM, HCELL}, JCHAIN (joining chain of multimeric IgA and IgM) [NCBI Gene 3512] {aka IGCJ, IGJ, JCH}, TCF7 (transcription factor 7) [NCBI Gene 6932] {aka TCF-1}, FLT1 (fms related receptor tyrosine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 2321] {aka FLT, FLT-1, VEGFR-1, VEGFR1}, TNFSF13B (TNF superfamily member 13b) [NCBI Gene 10673] {aka BAFF, BLYS, CD257, TALL-1, TALL1, THANK}, ZEB1 (zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1) [NCBI Gene 6935] {aka AREB6, BZP, DELTAEF1, FECD6, NIL2A, PPCD3}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, RORC (RAR related orphan receptor C) [NCBI Gene 6097] {aka IMD42, NR1F3, RORG, RZR-GAMMA, RZRG, TOR}, CEBPA (CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha) [NCBI Gene 1050] {aka C/EBP-alpha, CEBP}, APP (amyloid beta precursor protein) [NCBI Gene 351] {aka AAA, ABETA, ABPP, AD1, APPI, CTFgamma}, ITGB3 (integrin subunit beta 3) [NCBI Gene 3690] {aka BDPLT16, BDPLT2, BDPLT24, CD61, FMAIT1, GP3A}, ERAP2 (endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 2) [NCBI Gene 64167] {aka L-RAP, LRAP}, NCAM1 (neural cell adhesion molecule 1) [NCBI Gene 4684] {aka CD56, MSK39, NCAM}, JUP (junction plakoglobin) [NCBI Gene 3728] {aka CTNNG, DP3, DPIII, PDGB, PG, PKGB}
- **Diseases:** decline in immune function (MESH:D007154), cytotoxic (MESH:D064420), neuron damage (MESH:D009410), dementia (MESH:D003704), amyloid (MESH:C000718787), memory impairment (MESH:D008569), inflammation (MESH:D007249), MCI disease (MESH:D004194), Neurodegenerative Diseases (MESH:D019636), injury to (MESH:D014947), PD (MESH:D010300), AD (MESH:D000544), neuroinflammation (MESH:D000090862), hypoxic (MESH:D002534), neurological disorders (MESH:D009461), hypoxia (MESH:D000860)
- **Chemicals:** scATAC (-), ATP (MESH:D000255)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Cell lines:** S2 — Drosophila melanogaster (Fruit fly), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_Z232)

## Full text

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## Figures

8 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12941315/full.md

## References

31 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12941315/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12941315