1
|
Whitsitt Q, Saxena A, Patel B, Evans BM, Hunt B, Purcell EK. Spatial transcriptomics at the brain-electrode interface in rat motor cortex and the relationship to recording quality. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:046033. [PMID: 38885679 PMCID: PMC11289622 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad5936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Study of the foreign body reaction to implanted electrodes in the brain is an important area of research for the future development of neuroprostheses and experimental electrophysiology. After electrode implantation in the brain, microglial activation, reactive astrogliosis, and neuronal cell death create an environment immediately surrounding the electrode that is significantly altered from its homeostatic state.Objective.To uncover physiological changes potentially affecting device function and longevity, spatial transcriptomics (ST) was implemented to identify changes in gene expression driven by electrode implantation and compare this differential gene expression to traditional metrics of glial reactivity, neuronal loss, and electrophysiological recording quality.Approach.For these experiments, rats were chronically implanted with functional Michigan-style microelectrode arrays, from which electrophysiological recordings (multi-unit activity, local field potential) were taken over a six-week time course. Brain tissue cryosections surrounding each electrode were then mounted for ST processing. The tissue was immunolabeled for neurons and astrocytes, which provided both a spatial reference for ST and a quantitative measure of glial fibrillary acidic protein and neuronal nuclei immunolabeling surrounding each implant.Main results. Results from rat motor cortex within 300µm of the implanted electrodes at 24 h, 1 week, and 6 weeks post-implantation showed up to 553 significantly differentially expressed (DE) genes between implanted and non-implanted tissue sections. Regression on the significant DE genes identified the 6-7 genes that had the strongest relationship to histological and electrophysiological metrics, revealing potential candidate biomarkers of recording quality and the tissue response to implanted electrodes.Significance. Our analysis has shed new light onto the potential mechanisms involved in the tissue response to implanted electrodes while generating hypotheses regarding potential biomarkers related to recorded signal quality. A new approach has been developed to understand the tissue response to electrodes implanted in the brain using genes identified through transcriptomics, and to screen those results for potential relationships with functional outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Whitsitt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
| | - Akash Saxena
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
| | - Bella Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
| | - Blake M Evans
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
| | - Bradley Hunt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
| | - Erin K Purcell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xiao M, Wei R, Yu J, Gao C, Yang F, Zhang L. CpG Island Definition and Methylation Mapping of the T2T-YAO Genome. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2024; 22:qzae009. [PMID: 39142816 DOI: 10.1093/gpbjnl/qzae009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Precisely defining and mapping all cytosine (C) positions and their clusters, known as CpG islands (CGIs), as well as their methylation status, are pivotal for genome-wide epigenetic studies, especially when population-centric reference genomes are ready for timely application. Here, we first align the two high-quality reference genomes, T2T-YAO and T2T-CHM13, from different ethnic backgrounds in a base-by-base fashion and compute their genome-wide density-defined and position-defined CGIs. Second, by mapping some representative genome-wide methylation data from selected organs onto the two genomes, we find that there are about 4.7%-5.8% sequence divergency of variable categories depending on quality cutoffs. Genes among the divergent sequences are mostly associated with neurological functions. Moreover, CGIs associated with the divergent sequences are significantly different with respect to CpG density and observed CpG/expected CpG (O/E) ratio between the two genomes. Finally, we find that the T2T-YAO genome not only has a greater CpG coverage than that of the T2T-CHM13 genome when whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) data from the European and American populations are mapped to each reference, but also shows more hyper-methylated CpG sites as compared to the T2T-CHM13 genome. Our study suggests that future genome-wide epigenetic studies of the Chinese populations rely on both acquisition of high-quality methylation data and subsequent precision CGI mapping based on the Chinese T2T reference.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xiao
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Rui Wei
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Jun Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chujie Gao
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Fengyi Yang
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Le Zhang
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang L, Xiong Z, Xiao M. A Review of the Application of Spatial Transcriptomics in Neuroscience. Interdiscip Sci 2024; 16:243-260. [PMID: 38374297 DOI: 10.1007/s12539-024-00603-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Since spatial transcriptomics can locate and distinguish the gene expression of functional genes in special regions and tissue, it is important for us to investigate the brain development, the development mechanism of brain diseases, and the relationship between brain structure and function in Neuroscience (or Brain science). While previous studies have introduced the crucial spatial transcriptomic techniques and data analysis methods, there are few studies to comprehensively overview the key methods, data resources, and technological applications of spatial transcriptomics in Neuroscience. For these reasons, we first investigate several common spatial transcriptomic data analysis approaches and data resources. Second, we introduce the applications of the spatial transcriptomic data analysis approaches in Neuroscience. Third, we summarize the integrating spatial transcriptomics with other technologies in Neuroscience. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future research directions of spatial transcriptomics in Neuroscience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Le Zhang
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Zhenqi Xiong
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Ming Xiao
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Luo X, Song Z, Zeng X, Ye Y, Zheng H, Cai D, Yuan Q, Li H, Tong Y, Lu D, Liu Y, Zeng H, Yang Y, Sun H, Zou Q. A promising self-nanoemulsifying adjuvant with plant-derived saponin D boosts immune response and exerts an anti-tumor effect. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1154836. [PMID: 37415983 PMCID: PMC10319991 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1154836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The low immunogenicity of tumor antigens and unacceptable toxicity of adjuvants has hindered the application and development of tumor vaccines. Hence, we designed a novel anti-tumor vaccine composed of a plant-derived immunostimulant molecular nanoadjuvant (a self-nanoemulsifying system, SND) and the antigen OVA, to reinvigorate the immune response and inhibit tumor progression. Methods In this study, this novel nanoadjuvant with Saponin D (SND) was designed and prepared by low-energy emulsification methods. Several important characteristics of the SND, including morphology, size, polymer dispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and stability, were estimated, and the cytotoxicity of the SND was evaluated by MTT assay. Additionally, the immune response in terms of antibody titer levels and cellular immunity were evaluated in vivo after immunization with the vaccine, and the preventative and therapeutic effects of this novel vaccine against tumors were estimated. Finally, the antigen release profile was determined by IVIS imaging and by in vivo assay. Results This SND nanoadjuvant had good characteristics including the average particle size of 26.35 ± 0.225 nm, narrow distribution of 0.221 ± 1.76, and stability zeta potential of -12.9 ± 0.83 mV. And also, it had good stability (size, PDI, zeta potential, antigen stability) and low toxicity in vitro and in vivo, and delayed antigen release in vivo. The humoral immune response (IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b) and cellular immune level (cytokines of splenocytes including IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-1β andIL-17A) were both improved greatly after injected immunization at 0, 14, 28 days with the novel nanoadjuvant and antigen OVA. Importantly, this novel nanoadjuvant combined with OVA might lead to the induction of the prevent and treatment efficacy in the E.G7-OVA tumor-bearing mice. Conclusions These results suggested that this novel nanoadjuvant encapsulated natural plant immunostimulant molecular OPD could be a good candidate of tumor vaccine adjuvant for reinvigorating the immune response and powerfully inhibiting tumor growth effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Luo
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhen Song
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The 954 Army Hospital, Shannan, Tibet, China
| | - Xiaogqiang Zeng
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Ye
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hailin Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dingyi Cai
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingpeng Yuan
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haibo Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanan Tong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Dongshui Lu
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuheng Liu
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hao Zeng
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yun Yang
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongwu Sun
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Quanming Zou
- National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|