We generated single-cell transcriptomes from a large number of single cells using several commercially available platforms, in both microliter and nanoliter volumes, and compared performance between them. We benchmarked each method to conventional RNA-seq of the same sample using bulk total RNA, as well as to multiplexed qPCR, which is the current gold standard for quantitative single-cell gene expression analysis. In doing so, we were able to systematically evaluate the sensitivity, precision, and accuracy of various approaches to single-cell RNA-seq. Our results show that it is possible to use single-cell RNA-seq to perform quantitative transcriptome measurements of individual cells, that it is possible to obtain quantitative and accurate gene expression measurements with a relatively small number of sequencing reads, and that when such measurements are performed on large numbers of cells, one can recapitulate the bulk transcriptome complexity, and the distributions of gene expression levels found by single-cell qPCR. Overall design: 109 single-cell human transcriptomes were analyzed in total; 96 using nanoliter volume sample processing on a microfluidic platform, Nextera library prep (biological replicates); 3 using the SMARTer cDNA synthesis kit, Nextera library prep (biological replicates); 3 using the Transplex cDNA synthesis kit, Nextera library prep (biological replicates); 7 using the Ovation Nugen cDNA synthesis kit (biological replicates) where 3 used Nextera library prep and 4 used NEBNext library prep. In addition, 4 bulk RNA samples were sequenced: bulk RNA generated using ~1 million pooled cells was used to make bulk libraries, 2 of which were made using SMARTer cDNA synthesis kit (technical replicates) and 2 made using Superscript RT kit with no amplification (technical replicates). All 4 bulk samples were made into libraries using Nextera.
Quantitative assessment of single-cell RNA-sequencing methods.
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View SamplesA specific subpopulation of neural progenitor cells, the basal radial glia cells (bRGCs) of the outer subventricular zone (OSVZ), are thought to have a key role in the evolutionary expansion of mammalian neocortex. In the developing lissencephalic mouse neocortex, bRGCs exist at low abundance and show significant molecular differences from bRGCs in developing gyrencephalic species. Here, we demonstrate that developing mouse medial neocortex, in contrast to the canonically studied lateral neocortex, exhibits an OSVZ and an abundance of bRGCs similar to that in developing gyrencephalic neocortex. Unlike bRGCs in developing mouse lateral neocortex, the bRGCs in medial neocortex exhibit human bRGC-like gene expression, including expression of Hopx, a human bRGC marker. Disruption of Hopx expression in mouse embryonic medial neocortex and forced Hopx expression in mouse embryonic lateral neocortex demonstrate that Hopx is required and sufficient, respectively, for a bRGC abundance as found in developing gyrencephalic neocortex. Taken together, our data identify a novel bRGC subpopulation in developing mouse medial neocortex that is highly related to bRGCs of developing gyrencephalic neocortex. Overall design: 221 single-cell transcriptomes from microdissected medial neocortex of E18.5 mouse embryos (two independent analyses using a pool of 8 neocortices each).
A novel population of Hopx-dependent basal radial glial cells in the developing mouse neocortex.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWe used microfluidic single cell RNA-seq on adult isolated CC10-CreERT2 (negative) integrin beta4(pos) cells lung epithelial cells in order to determine the transcriptional profile of this putative progenitor population. Overall design: CC10-CreERT2 / tdTomato (negative) integrin beta4(pos) cells were isolated by FACS, as were Krt5-CreERT2 / tdTomato (positive) cells. These cells were pooled and loaded onto the Fluidigm C1 device.
Lineage-negative progenitors mobilize to regenerate lung epithelium after major injury.
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View SamplesCerebral organoids – three-dimensional cultures of human cerebral tissue derived from pluripotent stem cells – have emerged as models of human cortical development. However, the extent to which in vitro organoid systems recapitulate neural progenitor cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation programs observed in vivo remains unclear. Here we use single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to dissect and compare cell composition and progenitor-to-neuron lineage relationships in human cerebral organoids and fetal neocortex. Covariation network analysis using the fetal neocortex data reveals known and novel interactions among genes central to neural progenitor proliferation and neuronal differentiation. In the organoid, we detect diverse progenitors and differentiated cell types of neuronal and mesenchymal lineages, and identify cells that derived from regions resembling the fetal neocortex. We find that these organoid cortical cells use gene expression programs remarkably similar to those of the fetal tissue in order to organize into cerebral cortex-like regions. Our comparison of in vivo and in vitro cortical single cell transcriptomes illuminates the genetic features underlying human cortical development that can be studied in organoid cultures. Overall design: 734 single-cell transcriptomes from human fetal neocortex or human cerebral organoids from multiple time points were analyzed in this study. All single cell samples were processed on the microfluidic Fluidigm C1 platform and contain 92 external RNA spike-ins. Fetal neocortex data were generated at 12 weeks post conception (chip 1: 81 cells; chip 2: 83 cells) and 13 weeks post conception (62 cells). Cerebral organoid data were generated from dissociated whole organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cell line 409B2 (iPSC 409B2) at 33 days (40 cells), 35 days (68 cells), 37 days (71 cells), 41 days (74 cells), and 65 days (80 cells) after the start of embryoid body culture. Cerebral organoid data were also generated from microdissected cortical-like regions from H9 embryonic stem cell derived organoids at 53 days (region 1, 48 cells; region 2, 48 cells) or from iPSC 409B2 organoids at 58 days (region 3, 43 cells; region 4, 36 cells).
Human cerebral organoids recapitulate gene expression programs of fetal neocortex development.
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View SamplesWe profiled the transcriptome of cardiomyocytes from hiPSCs throughout differentiation and at a single cell level to identify subpopulations. We further studied on the transcription factors NR2F2, TBX5, and HEY2 in these subpopulations. Overall design: Cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) have become a powerful tool for human disease modeling and therapeutic testing. However, their use remains limited by their immaturity and heterogeneity. To characterize the source of this heterogeneity, we performed bulk RNA-seq on hiPSCs undergoing differentiation into cardiomyocytes over an extended time course followed by single-cell RNA-seq at a later time point (day 30). These analyses identified novel single-cell populations, characterized by the distinct or overlapping expression of TBX5, NR2F2, HEY2, ISL1, JARID2, and HOPX transcription factors. Analysis of RNA-seq data from hiPSC-CMs both during differentiation in vitro and from human heart tissues suggests these transcription factors underlie physiologically distinct lineages. Using CRISPR genome editing and ChIP-seq, in conjunction with patch clamp, calcium imaging, CYTOF, and single-cell Western analysis, we now demonstrate that these transcription factors play an essential role in specification of early atrial (NR2F2) and late ventricular (HEY2) cardiomyocytes. We RNA-sequenced NR2F2, TBX5, HEY2 gene edited lines as well as day 30 hiPSC-CMs overexpressing NR2F2, TBX5, and HEY2. These new targets, sequencing data, and methods provide a platform for improved investigation of in vitro cardiac heterogeneity.
Defining human cardiac transcription factor hierarchies using integrated single-cell heterogeneity analysis.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesEctopic expression of defined transcription factors can force direct cell fate conversion from one lineage to another in the absence of cell division. Several transcription factor cocktails have enabled successful reprogramming of various somatic cell types into induced neurons (iNs) of distinct neurotransmitter phenotype. However, the nature of the intermediate states that drive the reprogramming trajectory towards distinct iN types is largely unknown. Here we show that successful direct reprogramming of adult human brain pericytes into functional iNs by Ascl1 and Sox2 (AS) encompasses transient activation of a neural stem cell-like gene expression program that precedes bifurcation into distinct neuronal lineages. Intriguingly, during this transient state key signaling components relevant for neural induction and neural stem cell maintenance are regulated and functionally contribute to iN reprogramming and maturation. Thus, AS-mediated reprogramming into a broad spectrum of iN types involves the unfolding of a developmental program via neural stem cell-like intermediates. Overall design: Single-cell transcriptomes from multiple time points and conditions during direct conversion of human pericytes into induced pericytes through the overexpression of defined factors. Please note that [1] the *ctrl samples represent mock-transfected cells (analyzed along side of the transfected cells) [2] The cell type (for each sample) is provided as 'pericytes or pericyte-derived induced neuronal cells' (as they are in a differentiation continuum from pericytes to neurons due to the treatment protocol) with the combination of 'genotype/variation' and 'time point' information.
Direct pericyte-to-neuron reprogramming via unfolding of a neural stem cell-like program.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesGene expression profiles of bipolar disorder (BD) patients were assessed during both a manic and a euthymic phase and compared both intra-individually, and with the gene expression profiles of controls.
Investigation of manic and euthymic episodes identifies state- and trait-specific gene expression and STAB1 as a new candidate gene for bipolar disorder.
Specimen part, Disease, Subject
View SamplesWe used old (~96-102 weeks of age) and young (~28-34 weeks of age) rats from HCR and LCR generations 29 and 32, respectively. The study included eight groups; HCR-Old-Exhausted (H-O-E, n=6), HCR-Old-Rest (H-O-R, n=6), HCR-Young-Exhausted (H-Y-E, n=6), HCR- Young -Rest (H-Y-R, n=6), LCR-Old-Exhausted (L-O-E, n=6), LCR-Old-Rest (L-O-R, n=6), LCR-Young-Exhausted (L-Y-E, n=6), and LCR- Young -Rest (L-Y-R, n=6). For the exhausted rats, dissections were performed within 10 min after the maximal running distance was reached.
Selection-, age-, and exercise-dependence of skeletal muscle gene expression patterns in a rat model of metabolic fitness.
Specimen part
View SamplesCultures of primary human airway epithelial cells (HAE cells) were exposed to an MDCK equivalent MOI of 0.01 of several swine- and human-origin influenza viruses and RNA was extracted at the 12, 16, and 24 hours post infection.
25-Hydroxycholesterol acts as an amplifier of inflammatory signaling.
Specimen part
View SamplesRNA-Seq analysis of Treg cell subsets isolated from lungs of Il10GFPFoxp3Thy1.1 mice. Thy1.1+ Treg cells were FACS-sorted into IL-10–IL-18R–, IL-10+IL-18R– and IL10–IL-18R+ populations on day 5 following intranasal infection with 0.5 LD50 PR8-OTI influenza virus. Overall design: mRNA profiles of each Thy1.1+ Treg cell population (IL-10–IL-18R–, IL-10+IL-18R– and IL10–IL-18R+) from lungs on day 5 following influenza infection from 5 infected mice, sorted into TRIzol LS reagent.
A Distinct Function of Regulatory T Cells in Tissue Protection.
No sample metadata fields
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