Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics identify a macrophage population associated with skeletal muscle fibrosis.

Macrophages are essential for skeletal muscle homeostasis, but how their dysregulation contributes to the development of fibrosis in muscle disease remains unclear. Here, we used single-cell transcriptomics to determine the molecular attributes of dystrophic and healthy muscle macrophages. We identified six clusters and unexpectedly found that none corresponded to traditional definitions of M1 or M2 macrophages. Rather, the predominant macrophage signature in dystrophic muscle was characterized by high expression of fibrotic factors, galectin-3 (gal-3) and osteopontin (Spp1). Spatial transcriptomics, computational inferences of intercellular communication, and in vitro assays indicated that macrophage-derived Spp1 regulates stromal progenitor differentiation. Gal-3+ macrophages were chronically activated in dystrophic muscle, and adoptive transfer assays showed that the gal-3+ phenotype was the dominant molecular program induced within the dystrophic milieu. Gal-3+ macrophages were also elevated in multiple human myopathies. These studies advance our understanding of macrophages in muscular dystrophy by defining their transcriptional programs and reveal Spp1 as a major regulator of macrophage and stromal progenitor interactions.

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics identify a macrophage population associated with skeletal muscle fibrosis.

The monocytic/macrophage system is essential for skeletal muscle homeostasis, but its dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of muscle degenerative disorders. Despite our increasing knowledge of the role of macrophages in degenerative disease, it still remains unclear how macrophages contribute to muscle fibrosis. Here, we used single-cell transcriptomics to determine the molecular attributes of dystrophic and healthy muscle macrophages. We identified six novel clusters. Unexpectedly, none corresponded to traditional definitions of M1 or M2 macrophage activation. Rather, the predominant macrophage signature in dystrophic muscle was characterized by high expression of fibrotic factors, galectin-3 and spp1. Spatial transcriptomics and computational inferences of intercellular communication indicated that spp1 regulates stromal progenitor and macrophage interactions during muscular dystrophy. Galectin-3 + macrophages were chronically activated in dystrophic muscle and adoptive transfer assays showed that the galectin-3 + phenotype was the dominant molecular program induced within the dystrophic milieu. Histological examination of human muscle biopsies revealed that galectin-3 + macrophages were also elevated in multiple myopathies. These studies advance our understanding of macrophages in muscular dystrophy by defining the transcriptional programs induced in muscle macrophages, and reveal spp1 as a major regulator of macrophage and stromal progenitor interactions.