We are daily exposed to a multitude of health hazardous airborne particulate matter with notable deposition in the fragile alveolar region of our lungs. Hence, there is a great need for identification and prediction of material-associated diseases, currently hindered due to the lack of in-depth understanding of causal relationships, in particular between acute exposures and chronic symptoms. By applying advanced microscopies and omics to in vitro and in vivo systems, together with in silico molecular modelling, we have here determined that the long-lasting response to a single exposure can originate from the interplay between the newly discovered nanomaterial quarantining and nanomaterial cycling between different lung cell types. This new insight finally allows us to predict the spectrum of lung inflammation associated with materials of interest using only in vitro measurements and in silico modelling potentially relating outcomes to material properties for large number of materials thus boosting safe-by-design-based material development. Because of its profound implications for animal-free predictive toxicology, our work paves the way to a more efficient and hazard-free introduction of numerous new advanced materials into our lives.
Prediction of Chronic Inflammation for Inhaled Particles: the Impact of Material Cycling and Quarantining in the Lung Epithelium.
Cell line
View SamplesAdult neurogenesis in the murine dentate gyrus occurs in a specialized microenvironment that sustains the generation of neurons during life. To fully understand adult neurogenesis, it is essential to determine the neural stem cell (NSC) and progenitor developmental stages, their molecular determinants, and the niche cellular and molecular composition. We report on a single cell RNA sequencing study of the hippocampal niche, performed by isolating all the non-neuronal cell populations. Our analysis provides a comprehensive description of the dentate gyrus cells and allows the identification of exclusive cell type-specific markers. We define the developmental stages and transcriptional dynamics of NSCs and progenitors, and find that while NSCs represent a heterogeneous cellular continuum, progenitors can be grouped in distinct subtypes. We determine the oligodendrocyte lineage and transcriptional dynamics, and describe microglia transcriptional profile and activation state. The combined data constitutes a valuable resource to understand regulatory mechanisms of adult neurogenesis. Overall design: We generated transciptome data from cells unbiasely sorted from the hippocampal neurogenic niche after depleting the neuronal population
A Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Study Reveals Cellular and Molecular Dynamics of the Hippocampal Neurogenic Niche.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesUnderstanding the development and function of an organ requires the characterization of all of its cell types. Traditional methods for visualizing and isolating sub-populations of cells are based on mRNA or protein expression of only few known marker genes. The unequivocal identification of a specific marker gene, however, poses a major challenge, particularly if this cell type is rare. Identifying rare cell types, such as stem cells, short-lived progenitors, cancer stem cells, or circulating tumor cells is crucial to acquire a better understanding of normal or diseased tissue biology. To address this challenge we sequenced the transcriptome of hundreds of randomly selected cells from mouse intestinal organoids, cultured self-organizing epithelial structures that contain all cell lineages of the mammalian intestine. Organoid buds, like intestinal crypts, harbor stem cells that continuously differentiate into a variety of cell types, occurring at widely different abundances. Since available computational methods can only resolve more abundant cell types, we developed RaceID, an algorithm for rare cell type identification in complex populations of single cells. We demonstrate that this algorithm can resolve cell types represented by only a single cell in a population of randomly sampled organoid cells. We use this algorithm to identify Reg4 as a novel marker for enteroendocrine cells, a rare population of hormone producing intestinal cells. Next, we use Reg4 expression to enrich for these rare cells and investigate the heterogeneity within this population. Reassuringly, RaceID confirmed the existence of known enteroendocrine lineages, and moreover, discovered novel subtypes, which we subsequently validated in vivo. Having validated RaceID by this proof-of-principle experiment we then apply the algorithm to ex vivo isolated LGR5 positive cells and their direct progeny and demonstrate homogeneity of the stem cell pool. We envision broad applicability of our method for discovering rare cell types and the corresponding marker genes in healthy and diseased organs. Overall design: Small intestinal crypts were isolated from a single wild-type C57BL/6 mouse, a Reg4-dsRed-knock-in mouse and an Lgr5-GFP-DTR mouse. The crypts were propagated and expanded in culture as organoids. For each experiment, multiple organoids were harvested and dissociated into single cells. Each experiment was done twice, using different passage of the same organoid culture. We also included a pool-and-split control for 96 Reg4-dsRed positive intetsinal cells and a control library with 5 mouse embryonic stem cells (wells 1-5), 5 mouse embryonic fibroblasts (wells 6-10), 75 random organoid cells (wells 11-85), 5 wells without primer and without template (wells 86 and 93-96), and five wells with primer and without template (wells 87-92). We also sequenced two 96 well plates of Lgr5-EGFP positive single cells isolated ex vivo, and Lgr5 progeny collected after five days of lineage tracing. Label induction was performed using an Lgr5-Cre reporter mouse expressing YFP from Rosa26 promoter with a loxP flanked transcriptional road block in between. Five 96 well plates of YFP positive were sequenced. Sample number four also contains also unrelated samples (single cell barcode 49-96), which should be discarded.
Single-cell messenger RNA sequencing reveals rare intestinal cell types.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTo understand organ (dys)function it is important to have a complete inventory of its cell types and the corresponding markers that unambiguously identify these cell types. This is a challenging task, in particular in human tissues, because unique cell-type markers are typically unavailable, necessitating the analysis of complex cell type mixtures. Transcriptome-wide studies on pancreatic tissue are typically done on pooled islet material. To overcome this challenge we sequenced the transcriptome of thousands of single pancreatic cells from deceased organ donors with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D) allowing in silico purification of the different cell types. We identified the major pancreatic cell types resulting in the identification of many new cell-type specific and T2D-specific markers. Additionally we observed several subpopulations within the canonical pancreatic cell types, which we validated in situ. This resource will be useful for developing a deeper understanding of pancreatic biology and diabetes mellitus. Overall design: Human cadaveric pancreata were used to extract islets of Langerhans, which were kept in culture until single-cell dispersion and FACS sorting. Single-cell transcriptomics was performed on live cells from this mixture using CEL-seq or on cells stained for CD63, CD13, TGFBR3 or CD24 and CD44. The RaceID algorithm was used to identify clusters of cells corresponding to the major pancreatic cell types and to mine for novel cell type-specific genes as well as subpopulations within the known pancreatic cell types.
De Novo Prediction of Stem Cell Identity using Single-Cell Transcriptome Data.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesProliferation of the self-renewing epithelium of the gastric corpus occurs almost exclusively in the isthmus of the glands, from where cells migrate bi-directionally towards pit and base. The isthmus is therefore generally viewed as the stem cell zone. We find that the stem cell marker Troy is expressed at the gland base by a small subpopulation of chief cells. By lineage tracing using a Troy-eGFP-ires-CreERT2 allele, single marked cells are shown to generate entirely labeled gastric units over periods of months. This phenomenon accelerates upon tissue damage. Troy+ chief cells can be cultured to generate long-lived gastric organoids. Troy marks a specific, 'plastic' subset of differentiated chief cells capable of replenishing entire gastric units, essentially serving as a quiescent reserve stem cell.
Differentiated Troy+ chief cells act as reserve stem cells to generate all lineages of the stomach epithelium.
Specimen part
View SamplesPaneth cells (PCs) are long-lived secretory cells that reside at the bottoms of small intestinal crypts. Besides serving as niche cells for the neighboring Lgr5-positive stem cells, PCs secrete granules containing a broad spectrum of antimicrobial proteins, including lysozymes and defensins1. Here, we have used single-cell RNA sequencing to explore PC differentiation. We found a maturation gradient from early secretory progenitors to mature PCs, capturing the full maturation path of PCs. Moreover, differential expression of a subset of defensin genes in lysozyme-high PCs, e.g. Defa20, reveals at least two distinct stages of maturation. Overall design: We traced Lgr5+ stem cells from Lgr5-CreERT2 C57Bl6/J mice bred to a Rosa26LSL-YFP reporter mice and sorted YFP+ cells 5 days, 3 weeks and 8 weeks after tamoxifen injection.
De Novo Prediction of Stem Cell Identity using Single-Cell Transcriptome Data.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesLgr5+ stem cells reside at crypt bottoms of the small and large intestine. Small intestinal Paneth cells supply Wnt3, EGF and Notch signals to neighboring Lgr5+ stem cells. While the colon lacks Paneth cells, Deep Crypt Secretory (DCS) cells are intermingled with Lgr5+ stem cells at crypt bottoms. Here, we report Reg4 as a marker of DCS cells. To investigate a niche function, we eliminated DCS cells using the diphtheria-toxin receptor gene knocked into the murine Reg4 locus. Ablation of DCS cells results in loss of stem cells from colonic crypts and disrupts gut homeostasis and colon mini-gut formation. In agreement, sorted Reg4+ DCS cells promote organoid formation of single Lgr5+ colon stem cells. Stem cells are forced to generate DCS cells in vitro by combined Notch inhibition and Wnt activation. We conclude that Reg4+ DCS cells serve as Paneth cell equivalents in the colon crypt niche. Overall design: To define a global gene expression signature of DCS cells, we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of sorted Reg4-dsRed+ and Lgr5-GFP+ cells from colonic epithelium. Sorting and RNA-seq library preparation was performed twice, to obtain a biological replicate.
Reg4+ deep crypt secretory cells function as epithelial niche for Lgr5+ stem cells in colon.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesMice lacking topoisomerase II (Top II) are known to exhibit a perinatal death phenotype. In the current study, transcription profiles of the brains of wild type and top2 knockout mouse embryos were generated. Surprisingly, only a small number (1-4%) of genes were affected in top2 knockout embryos. However, the expression of nearly 30% of developmentally regulated genes was either up- or down-regulated.
Role of topoisomerase IIbeta in the expression of developmentally regulated genes.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesBy using NGS-derived retinal transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq) to compare the gene expression profiling between 4 differently treated NPC cells Overall design: Examination of different gene expression in EBV-miRNA-BART1/3/7 lentivirus and their control infected nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.
Epstein-Barr virus-encoded microRNA BART1 induces tumour metastasis by regulating PTEN-dependent pathways in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe underlying change of gene network expression of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) remains elusive. We sought to identify GBS-associated gene networks and signalling pathways by analyzing the transcriptional profile of leukocytes in the patients with GBS.
Identification of gene networks and pathways associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Race
View Samples