ZBP1 identified as key inflammatory sensor in allergic rhinitis

Researchers have constructed a high-resolution single-cell atlas of the nasal mucosa to investigate the cellular mechanisms underlying allergic rhinitis. The study, published in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, identifies ZBP1 as a critical inflammatory sensor that bridges epithelial stress to chronic mucosal inflammation. By analyzing nasal mucosa samples from allergic rhinitis patients and healthy controls, the team aimed to uncover susceptibility factors and genes regulating mucosal immunity that could contribute to precision treatment strategies.

The investigation utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to map the cellular heterogeneity within the nasal tissue. This high-resolution approach allowed the researchers to analyze differentially expressed genes and differentiation trajectories in detail. A primary focus of the analysis was the distribution of ZBP1 across various cell clusters and the potential mechanisms by which it influences allergic inflammation.

The single-cell RNA sequencing data revealed profound shifts in the nasal cellular composition of allergic rhinitis patients compared to healthy controls. Notably, there was a marked expansion of inflammatory epithelial and immune subsets in the disease-associated samples.

Within these disease-associated clusters, ZBP1 was strikingly upregulated in pro-inflammatory cells. Functional enrichment analyses linked ZBP1-positive cells to innate immune sensing, necroptosis, and cytokine-driven inflammatory pathways.

Furthermore, the atlas demonstrated that ZBP1-positive cells actively engage in enhanced crosstalk with infiltrating immune cells. This interaction potentiates the inflammatory cascade.

Using CCK8, ELISA, and PCR assays, the team found that inhibiting ZBP1 effectively suppresses the generation of inflammatory allergic rhinitis.

The study positions ZBP1 as a clinically tractable biomarker axis for patient stratification. The findings suggest that targeting ZBP1-centered cellular crosstalk could complement existing IgE-directed therapies, offering a new avenue for managing allergic rhinitis.

Subject of Research: Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of ZBP1-driven inflammatory circuits in allergic rhinitis nasal mucosa

Article Title: Single-cell atlas reveals ZBP1-driven inflammatory circuits in the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis

Article References: Yang, J., Wang, M., & Zhou, N. (2026). Single-cell atlas reveals ZBP1-driven inflammatory circuits in the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis. Clinical and Experimental Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-026-02336-8

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s10238-026-02336-8

Keywords: allergic rhinitis, single-cell RNA sequencing, ZBP1, nasal mucosa, inflammation, innate immunity, necroptosis, biomarker, cellular crosstalk, mucosal immunity, Single-cell, atlas