Regulatory Effects of Smoking Cessation on the Cellular Microenvironment and Differentially Expressed Genes in Precancerous Lesions of Pulmonary Nodules in Mice based on Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing and Immune Repertoire-Sequencing

Smoking cessation is known to reduce lung cancer progression, but its impact on precancerous lesions remains largely unexplored. In this study, a smoking-induced mouse model of pulmonary precancerous lesions was established using 6-week benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) exposure. Lung nodules were identified through micro-MRI imaging and histopathological evaluation by H&E staining and fluorescence microscopy. Smoking cessation interventions were applied for 4 and 8 weeks following lesion confirmation. Nodule size was quantified with Generic Medical Imaging software. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and immune repertoire sequencing (IR-seq) were performed to analyze immune cell composition, intercellular communication pathways, and receptor diversity. These approaches provide a comprehensive framework for investigating the cellular and molecular changes associated with smoking cessation in early lung lesion development.