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Maden SK, Huuki-Myers LA, Kwon SH, Collado-Torres L, Maynard KR, Hicks SC. lute: estimating the cell composition of heterogeneous tissue with varying cell sizes using gene expression. bioRxiv 2024:2024.04.04.588105. [PMID: 38617294 PMCID: PMC11014536 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.04.588105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Relative cell type fraction estimates in bulk RNA-sequencing data are important to control for cell composition differences across heterogenous tissue samples. Current computational tools estimate relative RNA abundances rather than cell type proportions in tissues with varying cell sizes, leading to biased estimates. We present lute, a computational tool to accurately deconvolute cell types with varying sizes. Our software wraps existing deconvolution algorithms in a standardized framework. Using simulated and real datasets, we demonstrate how lute adjusts for differences in cell sizes to improve the accuracy of cell composition. Software is available from https://bioconductor.org/packages/lute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean K. Maden
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Louise A. Huuki-Myers
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sang Ho Kwon
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Leonardo Collado-Torres
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristen R. Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephanie C. Hicks
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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2
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Hu Q, Zhang B, Jing Y, Ma S, Hu L, Li J, Zheng Y, Xin Z, Peng J, Wang S, Cheng B, Qu J, Zhang W, Liu GH, Wang S. Single-nucleus transcriptomics uncovers a geroprotective role of YAP in primate gingival aging. Protein Cell 2024:pwae017. [PMID: 38577810 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwae017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging has a profound impact on the gingiva and significantly increases its susceptibility to periodontitis, a worldwide prevalent inflammatory disease. However, a systematic characterization and comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanism underlying gingival aging is still lacking. Here, we systematically dissected the phenotypic characteristics of gingiva during aging in primates and constructed the first single-nucleus transcriptomic landscape of gingival aging, by which a panel of cell type-specific signatures were elucidated. Epithelial cells were identified as the most affected cell types by aging in the gingiva. Further analyses pinpointed the crucial role of YAP in epithelial self-renew and homeostasis, which declined during aging in epithelial cells, especially in basal cells. The decline of YAP activity during aging was confirmed in the human gingival tissues, and downregulation of YAP in human primary gingival keratinocytes recapitulated the major phenotypic defects observed in the aged primate gingiva while overexpression of YAP showed rejuvenation effects. Our work provides an in-depth understanding of gingival aging and serves as a rich resource for developing novel strategies to combat aging-associated gingival diseases, with the ultimate goal of advancing periodontal health and promoting healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinchao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yaobin Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- International Center for Aging and Cancer, Hainan Medical University, Haikou571199, China
| | - Shuai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lei Hu
- Salivary Gland Disease Center and Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, Beijing Laboratory of Oral Health and Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jingyi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yandong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zijuan Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jianmin Peng
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Si Wang
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Bin Cheng
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jing Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, 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
- Institute for Stem cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Guang-Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Songlin Wang
- Salivary Gland Disease Center and Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, Beijing Laboratory of Oral Health and Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
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3
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Adeoye T, Shah SI, Ullah G. Systematic Analysis of Biological Processes Reveals Gene Co-expression Modules Driving Pathway Dysregulation in Alzheimer's Disease. bioRxiv 2024:2024.03.15.585267. [PMID: 38559218 PMCID: PMC10980062 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.15.585267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) manifests as a complex systems pathology with intricate interplay among various genes and biological processes. Traditional differential gene expression (DEG) analysis, while commonly employed to characterize AD-driven perturbations, does not sufficiently capture the full spectrum of underlying biological processes. Utilizing single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data from postmortem brain samples across key regions-middle temporal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex-we provide a comprehensive systematic analysis of disrupted processes in AD. We go beyond the DEG-centric analysis by integrating pathway activity analysis with weighted gene co-expression patterns to comprehensively map gene interconnectivity, identifying region- and cell-type-specific drivers of biological processes associated with AD. Our analysis reveals profound modular heterogeneity in neurons and glia as well as extensive AD-related functional disruptions. Co-expression networks highlighted the extended involvement of astrocytes and microglia in biological processes beyond neuroinflammation, such as calcium homeostasis, glutamate regulation, lipid metabolism, vesicle-mediated transport, and TOR signaling. We find limited representation of DEGs within dysregulated pathways across neurons and glial cells, indicating that differential gene expression alone may not adequately represent the disease complexity. Further dissection of inferred gene modules revealed distinct dynamics of hub DEGs in neurons versus glia, highlighting the differential impact of DEGs on neurons compared to glial cells in driving modular dysregulations underlying perturbed biological processes. Interestingly, we note an overall downregulation of both astrocyte and microglia modules in AD across all brain regions, suggesting a prevailing trend of functional repression in glial cells across these regions. Notable genes, including those of the CALM and HSP90 family genes emerged as hub genes across neuronal modules in all brain regions, indicating conserved roles as drivers of synaptic dysfunction in AD. Our findings demonstrate the importance of an integrated, systems-oriented approach combining pathway and network analysis for a comprehensive understanding of the cell-type-specific roles of genes in AD-related biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Adeoye
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
| | - Syed I Shah
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
| | - Ghanim Ullah
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620
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4
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Weber LM, Divecha HR, Tran MN, Kwon SH, Spangler A, Montgomery KD, Tippani M, Bharadwaj R, Kleinman JE, Page SC, Hyde TM, Collado-Torres L, Maynard KR, Martinowich K, Hicks SC. The gene expression landscape of the human locus coeruleus revealed by single-nucleus and spatially-resolved transcriptomics. eLife 2024; 12:RP84628. [PMID: 38266073 PMCID: PMC10945708 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Norepinephrine (NE) neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) make long-range projections throughout the central nervous system, playing critical roles in arousal and mood, as well as various components of cognition including attention, learning, and memory. The LC-NE system is also implicated in multiple neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Importantly, LC-NE neurons are highly sensitive to degeneration in both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Despite the clinical importance of the brain region and the prominent role of LC-NE neurons in a variety of brain and behavioral functions, a detailed molecular characterization of the LC is lacking. Here, we used a combination of spatially-resolved transcriptomics and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing to characterize the molecular landscape of the LC region and the transcriptomic profile of LC-NE neurons in the human brain. We provide a freely accessible resource of these data in web-accessible and downloadable formats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas M Weber
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Heena R Divecha
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Matthew N Tran
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Sang Ho Kwon
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Abby Spangler
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Kelsey D Montgomery
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Madhavi Tippani
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Rahul Bharadwaj
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Joel E Kleinman
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Stephanie C Page
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Thomas M Hyde
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | | | - Kristen R Maynard
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Keri Martinowich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical CampusBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- The Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Stephanie C Hicks
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreUnited States
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5
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Lai J, Demirbas D, Kim J, Jeffries AM, Tolles A, Park J, Chittenden TW, Buckley PG, Yu TW, Lodato MA, Lee EA. ATM-deficiency-induced microglial activation promotes neurodegeneration in ataxia-telangiectasia. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113622. [PMID: 38159274 PMCID: PMC10908398 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
While ATM loss of function has long been identified as the genetic cause of ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), how it leads to selective and progressive degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje and granule neurons remains unclear. ATM expression is enriched in microglia throughout cerebellar development and adulthood. Here, we find evidence of microglial inflammation in the cerebellum of patients with A-T using single-nucleus RNA sequencing. Pseudotime analysis revealed that activation of A-T microglia preceded upregulation of apoptosis-related genes in granule and Purkinje neurons and that microglia exhibited increased neurotoxic cytokine signaling to granule and Purkinje neurons in A-T. To confirm these findings experimentally, we performed transcriptomic profiling of A-T induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia, which revealed cell-intrinsic microglial activation of cytokine production and innate immune response pathways compared to controls. Furthermore, A-T microglia co-culture with either control or A-T iPSC-derived neurons was sufficient to induce cytotoxicity. Taken together, these studies reveal that cell-intrinsic microglial activation may promote neurodegeneration in A-T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Lai
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Didem Demirbas
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Junho Kim
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ailsa M Jeffries
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Allie Tolles
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Junseok Park
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Thomas W Chittenden
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Computational Statistics and Bioinformatics Group, Genuity AI Research Institute, Genuity Science, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | - Timothy W Yu
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Michael A Lodato
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Eunjung Alice Lee
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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6
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Zheng D, Wondergem A, Kloet S, Willemsen I, Balog J, Tapscott SJ, Mahfouz A, van den Heuvel A, van der Maarel SM. snRNA-seq analysis in multinucleated myogenic FSHD cells identifies heterogeneous FSHD transcriptome signatures associated with embryonic-like program activation and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:284-298. [PMID: 37934801 PMCID: PMC10800016 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The sporadic nature of DUX4 expression in FSHD muscle challenges comparative transcriptome analyses between FSHD and control samples. A variety of DUX4 and FSHD-associated transcriptional changes have been identified, but bulk RNA-seq strategies prohibit comprehensive analysis of their spatiotemporal relation, interdependence and role in the disease process. In this study, we used single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of nuclei isolated from patient- and control-derived multinucleated primary myotubes to investigate the cellular heterogeneity in FSHD. Taking advantage of the increased resolution in snRNA-sequencing of fully differentiated myotubes, two distinct populations of DUX4-affected nuclei could be defined by their transcriptional profiles. Our data provides insights into the differences between these two populations and suggests heterogeneity in two well-known FSHD-associated transcriptional aberrations: increased oxidative stress and inhibition of myogenic differentiation. Additionally, we provide evidence that DUX4-affected nuclei share transcriptome features with early embryonic cells beyond the well-described cleavage stage, progressing into the 8-cell and blastocyst stages. Altogether, our data suggests that the FSHD transcriptional profile is defined by a mixture of individual and sometimes mutually exclusive DUX4-induced responses and cellular state-dependent downstream effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxu Zheng
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Annelot Wondergem
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Susan Kloet
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Iris Willemsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Judit Balog
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Ahmed Mahfouz
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Delft Bioinformatics Lab, Delft University of Technology, Van Mourik Broekmanweg 2628 XE, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Anita van den Heuvel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Silvère M van der Maarel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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7
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Nguyen TM, Geng X, Wei Y, Ye L, Garry DJ, Zhang J. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis identifies one subpopulation of endothelial cells that proliferates and another that undergoes the endothelial-mesenchymal transition in regenerating pig hearts. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 11:1257669. [PMID: 38288246 PMCID: PMC10823534 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1257669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: In our previous work, we demonstrated that when newborn pigs undergo apical resection (AR) on postnatal day 1 (P1), the animals' hearts were completely recover from a myocardial infarction (MI) that occurs on postnatal day 28 (P28); single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) data suggested that this recovery was achieved by regeneration of pig cardiomyocyte subpopulations in response to MI. However, coronary vasculature also has a key role in promoting cardiac repair. Method: Thus, in this report, we used autoencoder algorithms to analyze snRNAseq data from endothelial cells (ECs) in the hearts of the same animals. Main results: Our results identified five EC clusters, three composed of vascular ECs (VEC1-3) and two containing lymphatic ECs (LEC1-2). Cells from VEC1 expressed elevated levels of each of five cell-cyclespecific markers (Aurora Kinase B [AURKB], Marker of Proliferation Ki-67 [MKI67], Inner Centromere Protein [INCENP], Survivin [BIRC5], and Borealin [CDCA8]), as well as a number of transcription factors that promote EC proliferation, while (VEC3 was enriched for genes that regulate intercellular junctions, participate in transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling, and promote the endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndMT). The remaining VEC2 did not appear to participate directly in the angiogenic response to MI, but trajectory analyses indicated that it may serve as a reservoir for the generation of VEC1 and VEC3 ECs in response to MI. Notably, only the VEC3 cluster was more populous in regenerating (i.e., ARP1MIP28) than non-regenerating (i.e., MIP28) hearts during the 1-week period after MI induction, which suggests that further investigation of the VEC3 cluster could identify new targets for improving myocardial recovery after MI. Histological analysis of KI67 and EndMT marker PDGFRA demonstrated that while the expression of proliferation of endothelial cells was not significantly different, expression of EndMT markers was significantly higher among endothelial cells of ARP1MIP28 hearts compared to MIP28 hearts, which were consistent with snRNAseq analysis of clusters VEC1 and VEC3. Furthermore, upregulated secrete genes by VEC3 may promote cardiomyocyte proliferation via the Pi3k-Akt and ERBB signaling pathways, which directly contribute to cardiac muscle regeneration. Conclusion: In regenerative heart, endothelial cells may express EndMT markers, and this process could contribute to regeneration via a endothelial-cardiomyocyte crosstalk that supports cardiomyocyte proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh Minh Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Xiaoxiao Geng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Yuhua Wei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Lei Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Daniel J. Garry
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jianyi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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8
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Schmøkel SS, Nordentoft I, Lindskrog SV, Lamy P, Knudsen M, Jensen JB, Dyrskjøt L. Improved protocol for single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of frozen human bladder tumor biopsies. Nucleus 2023; 14:2186686. [PMID: 36878883 PMCID: PMC10012951 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2023.2186686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper provides a laboratory workflow for single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) including a protocol for gentle nuclei isolation from fresh frozen tumor biopsies, making it possible to analyze biobanked material. To develop this protocol, we used non-frozen and frozen human bladder tumors and cell lines. We tested different lysis buffers (IgePal and Nuclei EZ) and incubation times in combination with different approaches for tissue and cell dissection: sectioning, semi-automated dissociation, manual dissociation with pestles, and semi-automated dissociation combined with manual dissociation with pestles. Our results showed that a combination of IgePal lysis buffer, tissue dissection by sectioning, and short incubation time was the best conditions for gentle nuclei isolation applicable for snRNA-seq, and we found limited confounding transcriptomic changes based on the isolation procedure. This protocol makes it possible to analyze biobanked material from patients with well-described clinical and histopathological information and known clinical outcomes with snRNA-seq.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie S Schmøkel
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Iver Nordentoft
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sia V Lindskrog
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Philippe Lamy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Michael Knudsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Bjerggaard Jensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Urology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Dyrskjøt
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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9
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Peng H, Zhang K, Miao J, Yang Y, Xu S, Wu T, Tao C, Wang Y, Yang S. SnRNA-Seq of Pancreas Revealed the Dysfunction of Endocrine and Exocrine Cells in Transgenic Pigs with Prediabetes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097701. [PMID: 37175407 PMCID: PMC10178631 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes poses a significant threat to human health. Exocrine pancreatic dysfunction is related to diabetes, but the exact mechanism is not fully understood. This study aimed to describe the pathological phenotype and pathological mechanisms of the pancreas of transgenic pigs (PIGinH11) that was constructed in our laboratory and to compare it with humans. We established diabetes-susceptible transgenic pigs and subjected them to high-fat and high-sucrose dietary interventions. The damage to the pancreatic endocrine and exocrine was evaluated using histopathology and the involved molecular mechanisms were analyzed using single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (SnRNA-seq). Compared to wild-type (WT) pigs, PIGinH11 pigs showed similar pathological manifestations to type 2 diabetes patients, such as insulin deficiency, fatty deposition, inflammatory infiltration, fibrosis tissue necrosis, double positive cells, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria damage. SnRNA-seq analysis revealed 16 clusters and cell-type-specific gene expression characterization in the pig pancreas. Notably, clusters of Ainar-M and Endocrine-U were observed at the intermediate state between the exocrine and endocrine pancreas. Beta cells of the PIGinH11 group demonstrated the dysfunction with insulin produced and secret decreased and ER stress. Moreover, like clinic patients, acinar cells expressed fewer digestive enzymes and showed organelle damage. We hypothesize that TXNIP that is upregulated by high glucose might play an important role in the dysfunction of endocrine to exocrine cells in PIGinH11 pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanqi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kaiyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiakun Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shuang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Tianwen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Cong Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yanfang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shulin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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10
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Kang H, Liu Q, Seim I, Zhang W, Li H, Gao H, Lin W, Lin M, Zhang P, Zhang Y, Gao H, Wang Y, Qin Y, Liu M, Dong L, Yang Z, Zhang Y, Han L, Fan G, Li S. A genome and single-nucleus cerebral cortex transcriptome atlas of the short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus. Mol Ecol Resour 2023. [PMID: 36826393 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises) have large and anatomically sophisticated brains. To expand our understanding of the cellular makeup of cetacean brains and the similarities and divergence between the brains of cetaceans and terrestrial mammals, we report a short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) single-nucleus transcriptome atlas. To achieve this goal, we assembled a chromosome-scale reference genome spanning 2.25 Gb on 22 chromosomes and profiled the gene expression of five major anatomical cortical regions of the short-finned pilot whale by single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq). We identified six major cell lineages in the cerebral cortex (excitatory neurons, inhibitory neurons, oligodendrocytes, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, astrocytes, and endothelial cells), eight molecularly distinct subclusters of excitatory neurons, and four subclusters of inhibitory neurons. Finally, a comparison of snRNA-seq data from the short-finned pilot whale, human, and rhesus macaque revealed a broadly conserved cellular makeup of brain cell types. Our study provides genomic resources and molecular insights into cetacean brain evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Kang
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qun Liu
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, China.,Lars Bolund Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Qingdao-Europe Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, BGI-Qingdao, Qingdao, China.,Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, BGI-Qingdao, Qingdao, China
| | - Inge Seim
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenwei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hanbo Li
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, China.,Lars Bolund Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Qingdao-Europe Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, BGI-Qingdao, Qingdao, China
| | - Haiyu Gao
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenzhi Lin
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Mingli Lin
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Peijun Zhang
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | | | | | - Yang Wang
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, China
| | - Yating Qin
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, China
| | - Mingming Liu
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Lijun Dong
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Zixin Yang
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | | | - Lei Han
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guangyi Fan
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Songhai Li
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
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11
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Codden CJ, Chin MT. Common and Distinctive Intercellular Communication Patterns in Human Obstructive and Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:946. [PMID: 35055131 PMCID: PMC8780670 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited disorder characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy with or without left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Single-nuclei RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) of both obstructive and nonobstructive HCM patient samples has revealed alterations in communication between various cell types, but no direct and integrated comparison between the two HCM phenotypes has been reported. We performed a bioinformatic analysis of HCM snRNA-seq datasets from obstructive and nonobstructive patient samples to identify differentially expressed genes and distinctive patterns of intercellular communication. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 37 differentially expressed genes, predominantly in cardiomyocytes but also in other cell types, relevant to aging, muscle contraction, cell motility, and the extracellular matrix. Intercellular communication was generally reduced in HCM, affecting the extracellular matrix, growth factor binding, integrin binding, PDGF binding, and SMAD binding, but with increases in adenylate cyclase binding, calcium channel inhibitor activity, and serine-threonine kinase activity in nonobstructive HCM. Increases in neuron to leukocyte and dendritic cell communication, in fibroblast to leukocyte and dendritic cell communication, and in endothelial cell communication to other cell types, largely through changes in the expression of integrin-β1 and its cognate ligands, were also noted. These findings indicate both common and distinct physiological mechanisms affecting the pathogenesis of obstructive and nonobstructive HCM and provide opportunities for the personalized management of different HCM phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina J. Codden
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA;
| | - Michael T. Chin
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA;
- Tufts Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center and Research Institute, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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12
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Gerrits E, Heng Y, Boddeke EWGM, Eggen BJL. Transcriptional profiling of microglia; current state of the art and future perspectives. Glia 2019; 68:740-755. [PMID: 31846124 PMCID: PMC7064956 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are the tissue macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS) and the first to respond to CNS dysfunction and disease. Gene expression profiling of microglia during development, under homeostatic conditions, and in the diseased CNS provided insight in microglia functions and changes thereof. Single-cell sequencing studies further contributed to our understanding of microglia heterogeneity in relation to age, sex, and CNS disease. Recently, single nucleus gene expression profiling was performed on (frozen) CNS tissue. Transcriptomic profiling of CNS tissues by (single) nucleus RNA-sequencing has the advantage that it can be applied to archived and well-stratified frozen specimens. Here, we give an overview of the significant advances recently made in microglia transcriptional profiling. In addition, we present matched cellular and nuclear microglia RNA-seq datasets we generated from mouse and human CNS tissue to compare cellular versus nuclear transcriptomes from fresh and frozen samples. We demonstrate that microglia can be similarly profiled with cell and nucleus profiling, and importantly also with nuclei isolated from frozen tissue. Nuclear microglia transcriptomes are a reliable proxy for cellular transcriptomes. Importantly, lipopolysaccharide-induced changes in gene expression were conserved in the nuclear transcriptome. In addition, heterogeneity in microglia observed in fresh samples was similarly detected in frozen nuclei of the same donor. Together, these results show that microglia nuclear RNAs obtained from frozen CNS tissue are a reliable proxy for microglia gene expression and cellular heterogeneity and may prove an effective strategy to study of the role of microglia in neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Gerrits
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yang Heng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik W G M Boddeke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart J L Eggen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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