Single-cell multi-omics maps clonal IEL expansion and epithelial remodelling in refractory coeliac disease
- 1University of New South Wales; The Westmead Institute for Medical Research
Abstract
Background Refractory coeliac disease type 1 (RCD1) lacks defining molecular markers, and the immune and epithelial mechanisms sustaining intestinal injury remain poorly understood. Objective To define the clonal immune and epithelial states that distinguish RCD1 from active coeliac disease (ACD) and determine their spatial organisation in the duodenal mucosa. Design We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing, CITE-seq surface proteomics and paired T-cell receptor sequencing of duodenal immune and epithelial compartments from Healthy controls (n = 6), ACD (n = 7), RCD1 (n = 9) and RCD2 (n = 2), with spatial transcriptomics in a subset of biopsies. Results RCD1 showed widespread TCR{beta} and TCR{gamma}{delta} clonal expansion across multiple IEL states, extending beyond previously defined mutation-bearing aberrant clones. Distinct IEL populations converged on a shared programme of adaptive persistence, innate-like signalling, metabolic fitness and cytoskeletal remodelling; GZMK expression marked both clonally expanded and non-clonal disease-associated states. In parallel, RCD1 epithelium showed loss of mature absorptive cell states and expansion of stress-associated, immune-interacting and regenerative programmes. Transit-amplifying cells acquired differentiation and tissue-remodelling signatures, while enteroendocrine cells expanded and developed a sensory-neurosecretory programme involving TRPA1, TRPV1, vesicle trafficking and NEUROD1 regulon activity. Spatial transcriptomics localised regenerative and enteroendocrine-associated epithelial programmes adjacent to immune-visible epithelial regions and KLRK1/GZMK-expressing IEL-rich niches in refractory tissue. Conclusion RCD1 represents a distinct mucosal state characterised by coordinated clonal IEL adaptation and epithelial remodelling, rather than simple amplification of ACD, providing a cellular framework for persistent tissue injury and disease stratification.
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BibTeX
@misc{li2026singlecell,
title = {{Single-cell multi-omics maps clonal IEL expansion and epithelial remodelling in refractory coeliac disease}},
author = {M. Li and A. Safavi and J. Samir and R. Louie and E. Roohparvar Basmenj and M. Bonomi and T. Adikari and B. Gloss and J. Xing and K. Jackson and A. Calcino and D. Suan and V. Vaira and C. Milthorpe and M. Hardy and E. Masle-Farquhar and S. Read and M. Field and L. Elli and M. V. Lenti and A. Di Sabatino and R. Ciccocioppo and J. A. Tye-Din and G. Ahlenstiel and C. C. Goodnow and M. Singh and F. Luciani},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.64898/2026.08.30.747985},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.747985v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Single-cell multi-omics maps clonal IEL expansion and epithelial remodelling in refractory coeliac disease
AU - M. Li
AU - A. Safavi
AU - J. Samir
AU - R. Louie
AU - E. Roohparvar Basmenj
AU - M. Bonomi
AU - T. Adikari
AU - B. Gloss
AU - J. Xing
AU - K. Jackson
AU - A. Calcino
AU - D. Suan
AU - V. Vaira
AU - C. Milthorpe
AU - M. Hardy
AU - E. Masle-Farquhar
AU - S. Read
AU - M. Field
AU - L. Elli
AU - M. V. Lenti
AU - A. Di Sabatino
AU - R. Ciccocioppo
AU - J. A. Tye-Din
AU - G. Ahlenstiel
AU - C. C. Goodnow
AU - M. Singh
AU - F. Luciani
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/30
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.08.30.747985
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.747985v1
AB - Background Refractory coeliac disease type 1 (RCD1) lacks defining molecular markers, and the immune and epithelial mechanisms sustaining intestinal injury remain poorly understood. Objective To define the clonal immune and epithelial states that distinguish RCD1 from active coeliac disease (ACD) and determine their spatial organisation in the duodenal mucosa. Design We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing, CITE-seq surface proteomics and paired T-cell receptor sequencing of duodenal immune and epithelial compartments from Healthy controls (n = 6), ACD (n = 7), RCD1 (n = 9) and RCD2 (n = 2), with spatial transcriptomics in a subset of biopsies. Results RCD1 showed widespread TCR{beta} and TCR{gamma}{delta} clonal expansion across multiple IEL states, extending beyond previously defined mutation-bearing aberrant clones. Distinct IEL populations converged on a shared programme of adaptive persistence, innate-like signalling, metabolic fitness and cytoskeletal remodelling; GZMK expression marked both clonally expanded and non-clonal disease-associated states. In parallel, RCD1 epithelium showed loss of mature absorptive cell states and expansion of stress-associated, immune-interacting and regenerative programmes. Transit-amplifying cells acquired differentiation and tissue-remodelling signatures, while enteroendocrine cells expanded and developed a sensory-neurosecretory programme involving TRPA1, TRPV1, vesicle trafficking and NEUROD1 regulon activity. Spatial transcriptomics localised regenerative and enteroendocrine-associated epithelial programmes adjacent to immune-visible epithelial regions and KLRK1/GZMK-expressing IEL-rich niches in refractory tissue. Conclusion RCD1 represents a distinct mucosal state characterised by coordinated clonal IEL adaptation and epithelial remodelling, rather than simple amplification of ACD, providing a cellular framework for persistent tissue injury and disease stratification.
ER -