Single‐cell RNA landscape of cell fate decision of renal proximal tubular epithelial cells and immune‐microenvironment in kidney fibrosis

Enrichment analysis based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of PTECs in IFTA versus the others indicated significantly lower energy metabolism and higher mRNA catabolic processes, ribosome-related pathways, cell apoptosis and biosynthesis of amino acids (Figures 1D-E1 and S9). Lower glucose and lipid metabolism and higher arginine and glutamate-related metabolism were further found in the PTECs of the IFTA group by the scMetabolism and ssGSEA analysis (Figures 1I and S10a–e), indicating a possible relationship between protein metabolism and the cell differentiation of PTECs. [...]TCA cycle was elevated in the mast cells of the mild group, whereas fatty acid degradation and one-carbon metabolism elevated in the T cells of the IFTA group, and pentose phosphate pathway elevated in the B cells of the IFTA group, suggesting probable changes in cell states and the metabolic microenvironment.