Cell Type-Specific Laser Capture Microdissection for Gene Expression Profiling in the Human Brain

Laser Capture Microdissection-Based RNA Microsequencing Reveals Optic Nerve Crush-Related Early mRNA Alterations in Retinal Ganglion Cell Layer

Purpose

To establish a method of laser capture microdissection (LCM) and RNA microsequencing for exploring optic nerve crush (ONC)–related early mRNA alterations in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer.

Methods

An LCM protocol was developed using retinal tissue sections to obtain high-quality RNA for microsequencing. Cells in the RGC layer were collected by laser pressure catapulting (LPC) using a PALM Zeiss UV LCM system. The effect of section thickness and slide type on tissue capture success and RNA yield and the integrity after LCM were evaluated. The optimal LCM protocol was used to explore ONC-related early mRNA alterations in the RGC layer. Candidate genes were validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction of the RGC layer tissue dissected by “cut and LPC” using the same LCM system.

Results

We successfully established an optimal LCM protocol using 30-µm–thick retinal tissue sections mounted on glass slides and laser pressure catapulting (LPC) to collect cells in the RGC layer and to obtain high-quality RNA for microsequencing. On the basis of our protocol, we identified 8744 differentially expressed genes that were involved in ONC-related early mRNA alterations in the RGC layer. Candidate genes included Atf3, Lgals3, LOC102551701, Plaur, Tmem140, and Maml1.

Conclusions

The LCM-based single-cell RNA sequencing allowed a new sight into the early mRNA changes of RGCs highlighting new molecules associated to ONC.

Translational Relevance

This technique will be helpful for more accurate transcriptome analysis of clinical pathological samples of ophthalmology and provide important reference for the discovery of new pathological diagnosis indicators and drug development targets.

The use of laser capture microdissection to identify specific pathways and mechanisms involved in impulsive choice in rats

Background

Microinjections, lesions, viral-mediated gene transfer, or designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) can identify brain signaling pathways and their pharmacology in research animals. Genetically modified animals are used for more precise assessment of neural circuits. However, only a few of the gene-based pathway modifications are available for use in outbred rat strains.

New method

Behaviorally characterized Sprague-Dawley rats undergo tract tracing through microinjection of fluorospheres, followed by laser capture microdissection (LCM) and qPCR for detecting mRNA of pathway-associated gene products. Correlations between mRNA expression and behavior identify specific involvement of pharmacologically relevant molecules within cells of interest. Here, we examined this methodology in an impulsive choice paradigm and targeted projections from the orbital and medial prefrontal cortex.

Results

In this proof of concept study, we demonstrate relationships between measures of impulsive choice with distinct neurotransmitter receptor expression in cell populations from four different signaling pathways.

Comparisons with existing methods

Combining behavior, tract tracing, LCM, and gene expression profiling provides more cellular selectivity than localized lesions and DREADDs, and greater pharmacological specificity than microinjections and viral-mediated gene transfer due to targeting identified neurons. Furthermore, the assessment of inter-individual pathways provides insight into the complex nature of underlying mechanisms involved in typical and atypical behavior.

Conclusions

The novel combination of behavior, tract tracing, LCM, and single gene or potential whole genome transcriptome analysis allows for a more targeted understanding of the interconnection of neural circuitry with behavior, and holds promise to identify more specific drug targets that are relevant to behavioral phenotypes.

Proteomic Approaches to Decipher Mechanisms Underlying Pathogenesis in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The cause of MS is unknown, with no effective therapies available to halt the progressive neurological disability. Development of new and improvement of existing therapeutic strategies therefore require a better understanding of MS pathogenesis, especially during the progressive phase of the disease. This can be achieved through development of biomarkers that can help to identify disease pathophysiology and monitor disease progression. Proteomics is a powerful and promising tool to accelerate biomarker detection and contribute to novel therapeutics. In this review, an overview of how proteomic technology using CNS tissues and biofluids from MS patients has provided important clues to the pathogenesis of MS is provided. Current publications, pitfalls, as well as directions of future research involving proteomic approaches to understand the pathogenesis of MS are discussed.