Border-associated macrophages are located at the interface between the brain and the periphery, including the perivascular spaces, choroid plexus, and meninges. Until recently, the functions of border-associated macro...Border-associated macrophages are located at the interface between the brain and the periphery, including the perivascular spaces, choroid plexus, and meninges. Until recently, the functions of border-associated macrophages have been poorly understood and largely overlooked. However, a recent study reported that border-associated macrophages participate in stroke-induced inflammation, although many details and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive single-cell analysis of mouse border-associated macrophages using sequencing data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) database(GSE174574 and GSE225948). Differentially expressed genes were identified, and enrichment analysis was performed to identify the transcription profile of border-associated macrophages. CellChat analysis was conducted to determine the cell communication network of border-associated macrophages. Transcription factors were predicted using the ‘pySCENIC' tool. We found that, in response to hypoxia, borderassociated macrophages underwent dynamic transcriptional changes and participated in the regulation of inflammatory-related pathways. Notably, the tumor necrosis factor pathway was activated by border-associated macrophages following ischemic stroke. The pySCENIC analysis indicated that the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(Stat3) was obviously upregulated in stroke, suggesting that Stat3 inhibition may be a promising strategy for treating border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation. Finally, we constructed an animal model to investigate the effects of border-associated macrophages depletion following a stroke. Treatment with liposomes containing clodronate significantly reduced infarct volume in the animals and improved neurological scores compared with untreated animals. Taken together, our results demonstrate comprehensive changes in border-associated macrophages following a stroke, providing a theoretical basis for targeting border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation in stroke treatment.展开更多
Global brain ischemia and neurological deficit are consequences of cardiac arrest that lead to high mortality.Despite advancements in resuscitation science,our limited understanding of the cellular and molecular mecha...Global brain ischemia and neurological deficit are consequences of cardiac arrest that lead to high mortality.Despite advancements in resuscitation science,our limited understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying post-cardiac arrest brain injury have hindered the development of effective neuroprotective strategies.Previous studies primarily focused on neuronal death,potentially overlooking the contributions of non-neuronal cells and intercellular communication to the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest-induced brain injury.To address these gaps,we hypothesized that single-cell transcriptomic analysis could uncover previously unidentified cellular subpopulations,altered cell communication networks,and novel molecular mechanisms involved in post-cardiac arrest brain injury.In this study,we performed a single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the hippocampus from pigs with ventricular fibrillation-induced cardiac arrest at 6 and 24 hours following the return of spontaneous circulation,and from sham control pigs.Sequencing results revealed changes in the proportions of different cell types,suggesting post-arrest disruption in the blood-brain barrier and infiltration of neutrophils.These results were validated through western blotting,quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,and immunofluorescence staining.We also identified and validated a unique subcluster of activated microglia with high expression of S100A8,which increased over time following cardiac arrest.This subcluster simultaneously exhibited significant M1/M2 polarization and expressed key functional genes related to chemokines and interleukins.Additionally,we revealed the post-cardiac arrest dysfunction of oligodendrocytes and the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells into oligodendrocytes.Cell communication analysis identified enhanced post-cardiac arrest communication between neutrophils and microglia that was mediated by neutrophil-derived resistin,driving pro-inflammatory microglial polarization.Our findings provide a comprehensive single-cell map of the post-cardiac arrest hippocampus,offering potential novel targets for neuroprotection and repair following cardiac arrest.展开更多
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor originating from breast epithelial tissue.In essence,breast epithelial cells undergo gene mutation under the influence of carcinogenic factors,leading to abnormal cell proliferation ...Breast cancer is a malignant tumor originating from breast epithelial tissue.In essence,breast epithelial cells undergo gene mutation under the influence of carcinogenic factors,leading to abnormal cell proliferation and loss of organism regulation,ultimately leading to the formation of tumors with invasive and metastatic capabilities.Carcinogenic factors of breast cancer involve multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms.Among them,disseminated tumor cells(DTCs)are considered important for treating breast cancer.However,traditional bulk sequencing techniques have limitations,such as the inability to distinguish individual cell differences and dilution of information from key cell subpopulations(such as cancer stem cells and rare immune cells).Single-cell sequencing(scRNA-seq)overcomes the heterogeneity of tumors that traditional sequencing cannot capture by analysing the molecular characteristics of single cells,providing a highresolution perspective for precise typing of breast cancer,exploration of the mechanism of the microenvironment,and personalized treatment.Through this technology,researchers can identify specific gene expression profiles of different cell subpopulations,thus providing a new basis for the molecular typing and personalized treatment of breast cancer.This article explains how single-cell sequencing is used to describe the origin of disseminated tumor cells(DTCs),analyse tumor heterogeneity,metastasis,etc.,and review the current literature on the use of scRNA-seq in breast cancer treatment.In the future,cell separation and processing steps in single-cell sequencing will be further improved to ensure the accuracy of the results and broader application in clinical diagnosis and treatment.展开更多
Down syndrome(DS)is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21(Hsa21).Children with DS have an increased frequency of respiratory tract infections,impaired alveolar and vascular development,and pulmonary hypertension.Ho...Down syndrome(DS)is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21(Hsa21).Children with DS have an increased frequency of respiratory tract infections,impaired alveolar and vascular development,and pulmonary hypertension.How trisomy 21 causes lung diseases remains poorly understood.In this study,we use the Dp16 mouse model,which contains a segmental chromosomal duplication of the entire Hsa21 syntenic region on mouse chromosome 16,to explore the gene dosage effects on DS-related lung diseases.The Dp16 mice present impaired alveolar development and inflammatory-like pathological changes.Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)analysis highlights increased APP-related interactions among male Dp16 lung cells.Specifically,altered antigen processing and presentation with increased MHC-II signaling are found in Dp16 immune cells.Reduced angiogenesis and altered inflammatory responses of Dp16 endothelial cells are also suggested.Moreover,scRNA-seq indicates hyperplasia of Dp16 vascular smooth muscle cells,which is validated by tissue immunofluorescence assessment.Transthoracic echocardiography further shows the existence of pulmonary hypertension in young Dp16 mice.Independent scRNA-seq analysis of the female lung cells recapitulates the majority of key findings identified in male mice,confirming the reproducibility of the results.Collectively,our results provide important clues for the further development of therapeutic approaches for DS-related lung diseases.展开更多
Few studies have investigated alterations in the immune cell microenvironment of the dorsal root ganglia following spinal cord injury and whether these modifications facilitate axonal regeneration.In this study,we use...Few studies have investigated alterations in the immune cell microenvironment of the dorsal root ganglia following spinal cord injury and whether these modifications facilitate axonal regeneration.In this study,we used a single-cell RNA sequencing dataset to create a comprehensive profile of the diverse cell types in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord of a mid-thoracic contusion injury model in cynomolgus monkeys.Cell communication analysis indicated that specific signaling events among various dorsal root ganglia cell types occur in response to spinal cord injury.Single-cell analysis using dimensionality reduction clustering identified distinct molecular signatures for nine cell types,including macrophage subpopulations,and differential gene expression profiles between dorsal root ganglia cells and spinal cord cells following spinal cord injury.The macrophage subpopulations were categorized into 11 clusters(MC0-MC10)based on differentially expressed genes,with the top 10 genes being ABCA6,RBMS3,EBF1,LAMA4,ANTXR2,LAMA2,SOX5,FOXP2,GHR,and APOD.MC0,MC1,and MC2 constituted the predominant macrophage populations.MC4,MC6,and MC9 were nearly absent in the spinal cord,but exhibited significant increases in the dorsal root ganglia post-spinal cord injury.Notably,these subpopulations possess a strong capacity for regulating axonal regeneration.The developmental progression of dorsal root ganglia macrophages after spinal cord injury was elucidated using cell trajectory and pseudo-time analyses.Genes such as EBF1(MC6 and MC9 marker),RBMS3(MC6 and MC9 marker),and ABCA6(MC6 marker)showed high expression levels in the critical pathways of macrophage function.Through ligand-receptor pair analysis,we determined that the effects of macrophages on microglia are predominantly mediated through interaction pairs(e.g.,SPP1-CD44,LAMC1-CD44,and FN1-CD44),potentially facilitating specific cellular communications within the immune microenvironment.The single-cell RNA sequencing dataset used in this study represents the first comprehensive transcriptional analysis of the dorsal root ganglia after spinal cord injury in cynomolgus monkeys,encompassing nearly all cell types within the dorsal root ganglia region.Using this dataset,we evaluated diverse subtypes of macrophages in the post-spinal cord injury dorsal root ganglia area and examined the signaling pathways that facilitate interactions among immune response-related macrophages in the dorsal root ganglia.Findings from this study provide a theoretical basis for understanding how the immune microenvironment influences the regenerative capacity of dorsal root ganglia neurons after spinal cord injury and offer novel insights into the complex processes underlying the pathobiology of spinal cord injury.展开更多
Many spore-forming Bacillus species can cause serious human diseases,because of accidental Bacillusspore infection.Thus,developing an identification strategy with both high sensitivity and specificity is greatly in de...Many spore-forming Bacillus species can cause serious human diseases,because of accidental Bacillusspore infection.Thus,developing an identification strategy with both high sensitivity and specificity is greatly in demand.In this work,we proposed a novel approach named multi-head self-attention mechanism-guided neural network Raman platform to identify living Bacillus spores within a single-cell resolution.The multi-head self-attention mechanism-guided neural network Raman platform was created by combining single-cell Raman spectroscopy,convolutional neural network(CNN),and multi-head self-attention mechanism.To address the limited size of the original spectra dataset,Gaussian noise-based spectra augmentation was employed to increase the number of single-cell Raman spectra datasets for CNN training.Owing to the assistance of both spectra augmentation and multi-head self-attention mechanism,the obtained prediction accuracy of five Bacillus spore species was further improved from 92.29±0.82%to 99.43±0.15%.To figure out the spectra differences covered by the multi-head self-attention mechanism-guided CNN,the relative classification weight from typical Raman bands was visualized via multi-head self-attention mechanism curve.In the process of spectra augmentation from 0 to 1000,the distribution of relative classification weight varied from a discrete state to a more concentrated phase.More importantly,these highlighted four Raman bands(1017,1449,1576,and 1660 cm^(-1))were assigned large weights,showing that the spectra differences in the Raman bands produced the largest contribution to prediction accuracy.It can be foreseen that,our proposed sorting platform has great potential in accurately identifying Bacillus and its related genera species at a single-cell level.展开更多
Immune modulation is crucial for male reproduction and fertility.Metals and metalloids(metals)have been extensively studied for their immunomodulatory effects.Whether metal exposure affects semen quality through immun...Immune modulation is crucial for male reproduction and fertility.Metals and metalloids(metals)have been extensively studied for their immunomodulatory effects.Whether metal exposure affects semen quality through immune modulation is unclear.In the present study,we explored the associations between exogenous metals within immune cells,immune cell proportions,and semen quality among 84 healthy men who repeatedly provided 266 semen samples over 90 days.We employed mass cytometry(CyTOF)technology to identify immune cells in semen and measured exogenous metals in these cells at the single-cell resolution.After adjusting for potential confounders,most detected metals in immune cells were inversely associated with the proportion of immune cells in semen samples(all p<0.05),indicating the adverse effects of exogenous metals on immune cells.The proportion of immune cells showed N-shaped,nonlinear associations with sperm concentration,total count,progressive motility,and total motility.Mediation analyses showed that the percentage of indirect effects of exogenous metals on sperm quality parameters via immune cells ranged from 15.11%to 54.29%.Overall,our findings unravel the indirect effects of exogenous metal exposure on male reproductive health via immune cells,contributing valuable insights into the complex interplay between environmental factors,immune cells,and human semen quality.展开更多
Background Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid(GenX),a substitute for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances,has been widely detected in various environmental matrices and foods recently,attracting great attention.Howeve...Background Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid(GenX),a substitute for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances,has been widely detected in various environmental matrices and foods recently,attracting great attention.However,a systematic characterization of its reproductive toxicity is still missing.This study aims to explore the male reproductive toxicity caused by GenX exposure and the potential cellular and molecular regulatory mechanisms behind it.Results Normally developing mice were exposed to GenX,and testicular tissue was subsequently analyzed and validated using single-cell RNA sequencing.Our results revealed that GenX induced severe testicular damage,disrupted the balance between undifferentiated and differentiated spermatogonial stem cells,and led to strong variation in the cellular dynamics of spermatogenesis.Furthermore,GenX exposure caused global upregulation of testicular somatic cellular inflammatory responses,increased abnormal macrophage differentiation,and attenuated fibroblast adhesion,disorganizing the somatic-germline interactions.Conclusions In conclusion,this study revealed complex cellular dynamics and transcriptome changes in mouse testis after GenX exposure,providing a valuable resource for understanding its reproductive toxicity.展开更多
Polystyrene nanoparticles pose significant toxicological risks to aquatic ecosystems,yet their impact on zebrafish(Danio rerio)embryonic development,particularly erythropoiesis,remains underexplored.This study used si...Polystyrene nanoparticles pose significant toxicological risks to aquatic ecosystems,yet their impact on zebrafish(Danio rerio)embryonic development,particularly erythropoiesis,remains underexplored.This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively evaluate the effects of polystyrene nanoparticle exposure on erythropoiesis in zebrafish embryos.In vivo validation experiments corroborated the transcriptomic findings,revealing that polystyrene nanoparticle exposure disrupted erythrocyte differentiation,as evidenced by the decrease in mature erythrocytes and concomitant increase in immature erythrocytes.Additionally,impaired heme synthesis further contributed to the diminished erythrocyte population.These findings underscore the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on hematopoietic processes,highlighting their potential to compromise organismal health in aquatic environments.展开更多
In recent years,advancements in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics,which are highly regarded developments in the current era,particularly the emerging integration of single-cell and spatiotemporal transcriptomics...In recent years,advancements in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics,which are highly regarded developments in the current era,particularly the emerging integration of single-cell and spatiotemporal transcriptomics,have enabled a detailed molecular comprehension of the complex regulation of cell fate.The insights obtained from these methodologies are anticipated to significantly contribute to the development of personalized medicine.Currently,single-cell technology is less frequently utilized for prostate cancer compared with other types of tumors.Start-ing from the perspective of RNA sequencing technology,this review outlined the signifcance of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)in prostate cancer research,encompassing preclinical medicine and clinical applications.We summarize the differences between mouse and human prostate cancer as revealed by scRNA-seq studies,as well as a combination of multi-omics methods involving scRNA-seq to highlight the key molecular targets for the diagnosis,treatment,and drug resistance characteristics of prostate cancer.These studies are expected to provide novel insights for the development of immunotherapy and other innovative treatment strategies for castration-resistant prostate cancer.Furthermore,we explore the potential clinical applications stemming from other single-cell technologies in this review,paving the way for future research in precision medicine.展开更多
Elucidating the complex dynamic cellular organization in the hypothalamus is critical for understanding its role in coordinating fundamental body functions. Over the past decade, single-cell and spatial omics technolo...Elucidating the complex dynamic cellular organization in the hypothalamus is critical for understanding its role in coordinating fundamental body functions. Over the past decade, single-cell and spatial omics technologies have significantly evolved, overcoming initial technical challenges in capturing and analyzing individual cells. These high-throughput omics technologies now offer a remarkable opportunity to comprehend the complex spatiotemporal patterns of transcriptional diversity and cell-type characteristics across the entire hypothalamus. Current single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing methods comprehensively quantify gene expression by exploring distinct phenotypes across various subregions of the hypothalamus. However, single-cell/single-nucleus RNA sequencing requires isolating the cell/nuclei from the tissue, potentially resulting in the loss of spatial information concerning neuronal networks. Spatial transcriptomics methods, by bypassing the cell dissociation, can elucidate the intricate spatial organization of neural networks through their imaging and sequencing technologies. In this review, we highlight the applicative value of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in exploring the complex molecular-genetic diversity of hypothalamic cell types, driven by recent high-throughput achievements.展开更多
Background:This study aims to identify distinct cellular subtypes within brain tissue using single-cell transcriptomic analysis,focusing on specific biomarkers that differentiate cell types and the effects of traditio...Background:This study aims to identify distinct cellular subtypes within brain tissue using single-cell transcriptomic analysis,focusing on specific biomarkers that differentiate cell types and the effects of traditional and exercise therapy.Methods:Four samples were analyzed:older control(OC),older exercise(OE),younger control(YC),and younger exercise(YE).Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to distinguish cellular subtypes through their biomarker profiles.Data visualization included violin and t-SNE plots to illustrate biomarker expression across cell clusters such as oligodendrocytes,microglia,and astrocytes.Additionally,BV2 cells were exposed to amyloid-beta fragments to simulate Alzheimer’s disease,assessing the impact of exercise-induced cellular responses.Results:Distinct cellular subtypes were identified:oligodendrocytes(MBP,St18),microglia(Dock8),and astrocytes(Aqp4,Gpc5).Sample OE was predominantly oligodendrocytes,while YE had more astrocytes,inhibitory neurons,and Canal-Retzius cells.YC showed a significant presence of Olfm3+ganglion neurons.ZEB1 gene knockout revealed changes in SMAD family gene expression,which regulate ferroptosis.Oxidative stress levels were also evaluated.Conclusion:This profiling enhances our understanding of brain cellular functions and interactions,potentially informing targeted therapies in neurological research.Exercise may influence brain cell immune responses and cell death pathways by regulating specific gene expressions,offering new insights for treating neuroinflammation and degeneration.展开更多
Drug resistance remains a major challenge in breast cancer chemotherapy,yet the metabolic alterations underlying this phenomenon are not fully understood.There is much evidence indicating the cellular heterogeneity am...Drug resistance remains a major challenge in breast cancer chemotherapy,yet the metabolic alterations underlying this phenomenon are not fully understood.There is much evidence indicating the cellular heterogeneity among cancer cells,which exhibit varying degrees of metabolic reprogramming and thus may result in differential contributions to drug resistance.A home-built single-cell quantitative mass spectrometry(MS)platform,which integrates micromanipulation and electro-osmotic sampling,was developed to quantitatively profile the tricarboxylic acid(TCA)cycle metabolites at the single-cell level.Using this platform,the metabolic profiles of drug-sensitive MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their drug-resistant derivative MCF-7/ADR cells were compared.This results revealed a selective upregulation of downstream TCA cycle metabolites includingα-ketoglutarate,succinate,fumarate,and malate in drug-resistant cancer cells,while early TCA metabolites remained largely unchanged.Furthermore,notable variations in the abundance of the metabolites were observed in individual cells.The comparative analysis also revealed that not all MCF-7/ADR cells exhibit the same degree of metabolic deviation from the parental line in the metabolites during resistance acquisition.The observed metabolic profiles indicate enhanced glutaminolysis,altered mitochondrial electron transport chain activity,and increased metabolic flexibility in drug-resistant cancer cells that support their survival under chemotherapeutic stress.The findings further suggest the potential for incorporating cellular metabolic heterogeneity into future drug resistance studies.展开更多
Meniscus injuries are widespread and the available treatments do not offer enough healing potential.Here,we provide critical support for using pigs as a biological model for meniscal degeneration and the development o...Meniscus injuries are widespread and the available treatments do not offer enough healing potential.Here,we provide critical support for using pigs as a biological model for meniscal degeneration and the development of cutting-edge therapies in orthopedics.We present a single-cell transcriptome atlas of the meniscus,consisting of cell clusters corresponding to four major cell types:chondrocytes,endothelial cells,smooth muscle cells,and immune cells.Five distinct chondrocyte subclusters(CH0–CH4)were annotated,of which only one was widespread in both the red and white zones,indicating a major difference in the cellular makeup of the zones.Subclusters distinct to the white zone appear responsible for cartilage-specific matrix deposition and protection against adverse microenvironmental factors,while those in the red zone exhibit characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and are more likely to proliferate and migrate.Additionally,they induce remodeling actions in other chondrocyte subclusters and promote the proliferation and maturation of endothelial cells,inducing healing and vascularization processes.Considering that they have substantial remodeling capabilities,these subclusters should be of great interest for tissue engineering studies.We also show that the cellular makeup of the pig meniscus is comparable to that of humans,which supports the use of pigs as a model in orthopedic therapy development.展开更多
The kidney is essential for maintaining fluid,electrolyte,and metabolite homeostasis,and for regulating blood pressure.The pig serves as a valuable biomedical model for human renal physiology,offering insights across ...The kidney is essential for maintaining fluid,electrolyte,and metabolite homeostasis,and for regulating blood pressure.The pig serves as a valuable biomedical model for human renal physiology,offering insights across different physiological states.In this study,single-cell RNA sequencing was used to profile 138469 cells from 12 pig kidney samples collected during the embryonic(E),fattening(F),and pregnancy(P)periods,identifying 29 cell types.Proximal tubule(PT)cells exhibited elevated expression of metabolism-related transcription factors(TFs),including GPD1,ACAA1,and AGMAT,with validation across multiple individuals,periods,and species.Fluorescence homologous double-labeling of paraffin sections further confirmed the expression of ACAA1 and AGMAT in PT cells.Comparative analysis of pig and human kidneys revealed a high degree of similarity among corresponding cell types.Analysis of cell-type heterogeneity highlighted the diversity of thick ascending limb(TAL)cells,identifying a TAL subpopulation related to immune function.Additionally,the functional heterogeneity of kidney-resident macrophages(KRM)was explored across different anatomical sites.In the renal medulla,KRM were implicated in phagocytosis and leukocyte activation,whereas in the renal pelvis,they functioned as ligands,recruiting neutrophils with bactericidal activity to the renal pelvis to combat urinary tract infections.展开更多
Background:Medulloblastoma(MB)is one of the most common malignant brain tumors that mainly affect children.Various approaches have been used to model MB to facilitate investigating tumorigenesis.This study aims to com...Background:Medulloblastoma(MB)is one of the most common malignant brain tumors that mainly affect children.Various approaches have been used to model MB to facilitate investigating tumorigenesis.This study aims to compare the recapitulation of MB between subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft(sPDX),intracranial patient-derived xenograft(iPDX),and genetically engineered mouse models(GEMM)at the single-cell level.Methods:We obtained primary human sonic hedgehog(SHH)and group 3(G3)MB samples from six patients.For each patient specimen,we developed two sPDX and iPDX models,respectively.Three Patch+/-GEMM models were also included for sequencing.Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to compare gene expression profiles,cellular composition,and functional pathway enrichment.Bulk RNA-seq deconvolution was performed to compare cellular composition across models and human samples.Results:Our results showed that the sPDX tumor model demonstrated the highest correlation to the overall transcriptomic profiles of primary human tumors at the single-cell level within the SHH and G3 subgroups,followed by the GEMM model and iPDX.The GEMM tumor model was able to recapitulate all subpopulations of tumor microenvironment(TME)cells that can be clustered in human SHH tumors,including a higher proportion of tumor-associated astrocytes and immune cells,and an additional cluster of vascular endothelia when compared to human SHH tumors.Conclusions:This study was the first to compare experimental models for MB at the single-cell level,providing value insights into model selection for different research purposes.sPDX and iPDX are suitable for drug testing and personalized therapy screenings,whereas GEMM models are valuable for investigating the interaction between tumor and TME cells.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is notorious for its aggressive progression and dismal prognosis,with chromatin accessibility dynamics emerging as pivotal yet poorly understood drivers.AIM To dissect how multi...BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is notorious for its aggressive progression and dismal prognosis,with chromatin accessibility dynamics emerging as pivotal yet poorly understood drivers.AIM To dissect how multilayered chromatin regulation sustains oncogenic transcription and tumor-stroma crosstalk in HCC,we combined multiomics single cell analysis.METHODS We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and paired single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing data of HCC samples,complemented by bulk RNA sequencing validation across The Cancer Genome Atlas,Liver Cancer Institute,and GSE25907 cohorts.Cell type-specific chromatin architectures were resolved via ArchR,with regulatory hubs identified through peak-to-gene linkages and coaccessibility networks.Functional validation employed A485-mediated histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation suppression and small interfering RNA targeting DGAT1.RESULTS Malignant hepatocytes exhibited expanded chromatin accessibility profiles,characterized by increased numbers of accessible peaks and larger physical regions despite reduced peak intensity.Enhancer-like peaks enriched in malignant regulation,forming long-range hubs.Eighteen enhancer-like peak-related genes showed tumor-specific overexpression and diagnostic accuracy,correlating with poor prognosis.Intercellular coaccessibility analysis revealed tumor-stroma symbiosis via shared chromatin states.Pharmacological histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation inhibition paradoxically downregulated DGAT1,the hub gene most strongly regulated by chromatin accessibility.DGAT1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation.CONCLUSION Multilayered chromatin reprogramming sustains HCC progression through tumor-stroma crosstalk and DGAT1-related oncogenic transcription,defining targetable epigenetic vulnerabilities.展开更多
As a common malignant tumor,the heterogeneity of colorectal cancer plays an important role in tumor progression and treatment response.In recent years,the rapid development of single-cell transcriptomics and spatial t...As a common malignant tumor,the heterogeneity of colorectal cancer plays an important role in tumor progression and treatment response.In recent years,the rapid development of single-cell transcriptomics and spatial transcriptomics technologies has provided new perspectives for resolving the heterogeneity of colorectal cancer.These techniques can reveal the complexity of cellular composition and their interactions in the tumor microenvironment,and thus facilitate a deeper understanding of tumor biology.However,in practical applications,researchers still face technical challenges such as data processing and result interpretation.The aim of this paper is to explore how to use artificial intelligence(AI)technology to enhance the research efficiency of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics,analyze the current research progress and its limitations,and explore how combining AI approaches can provide new ideas for decoding the heterogeneity of colorectal cancer,and ultimately provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for the clinical precision treatment.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the possible mechanisms by which acupuncture improves post-stroke limb spasticity using single-cell sequencing technology.METHODS:Thirty-two rats were randomly assigned to four groups:Control,...OBJECTIVE:To investigate the possible mechanisms by which acupuncture improves post-stroke limb spasticity using single-cell sequencing technology.METHODS:Thirty-two rats were randomly assigned to four groups:Control,Sham,Model,and Acupuncture.The middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model was established,and the acupuncture groups received acupuncture treatment.After treatment,brain morphological changes and the degree of neurological impairment were assessed.The effect of acupuncture on the proportion of brain cell types in the ischemic penumbra of MCAO rats was analyzed using single-cell transcriptomics,and the expression and enrichment of differentially expressed genes were examined.Finally,selected differential genes were validated by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS:Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining showed that the infarct area in MCAO rats was significantly reduced after acupuncture.Garcia scoring,hematoxylin-eosin staining,Nissl staining,and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling demonstrated that acupuncture reduced brain damage.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that acupuncture significantly decreased serum inflammatory factors,including interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α).Single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed marked changes in cell type proportions between the Acupuncture and Model groups.A total of 207 differential genes were identified,including 157 upregulated and 50 downregulated genes.Analysis of macrophage-specific differential genes in the ischemic penumbra showed enrichment in Gene Ontology terms such as Ras protein signal transduction and regulation of GTPase activity,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways including lysosome,axon guidance,and mitogenactivated protein kinase signaling.S100a8 and leukocyte specific transcript 1(LST1)were identified as key differential genes.CONCLUSION:These findings suggest that the key differential genes S100a8 and LST1 may alleviate poststroke limb spasticity by regulating the inflammatory response in the ischemic penumbra.展开更多
Pigeons and certain other avian species produce a milklike secretion in their crop sacs to nourish offspring,yet the detailed processes involved are not fully elucidated.This study investigated the crop sacs of 225-da...Pigeons and certain other avian species produce a milklike secretion in their crop sacs to nourish offspring,yet the detailed processes involved are not fully elucidated.This study investigated the crop sacs of 225-day-old unpaired non-lactating male pigeons(MN)and males initiating lactation on the first day after incubation(ML).Using RNA sequencing,ribosomeprofiling,andsingle-cell transcriptome sequencing(scRNA-seq),we identified a significant up-regulation of genes associated with ribosome assembly and protein synthesis in ML compared to MN.Results from scRNA-seq analysis identified 12distinct cell types and 22 clusters,with secretory epithelial cells(SECs)exhibiting marked expression of plasma cell markers,including IGLL1 and MZB1.RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization(RNA FISH)and IgY quantification confirmed the critical role of SECs in producing endogenous IgY during lactation.We propose that fibroblast-derived BAFF signals activate SECs,mimicking B cell transformation and enhancing protein production through the unfolded protein response(UPR).These findings shed light on the cellular dynamics of pigeon milk production and contribute to a broader understanding of avian biology.展开更多
基金supported by Qingdao Key Medical and Health Discipline ProjectThe Intramural Research Program of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University,No. 4910Qingdao West Coast New Area Science and Technology Project,No. 2020-55 (all to SW)。
文摘Border-associated macrophages are located at the interface between the brain and the periphery, including the perivascular spaces, choroid plexus, and meninges. Until recently, the functions of border-associated macrophages have been poorly understood and largely overlooked. However, a recent study reported that border-associated macrophages participate in stroke-induced inflammation, although many details and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive single-cell analysis of mouse border-associated macrophages using sequencing data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) database(GSE174574 and GSE225948). Differentially expressed genes were identified, and enrichment analysis was performed to identify the transcription profile of border-associated macrophages. CellChat analysis was conducted to determine the cell communication network of border-associated macrophages. Transcription factors were predicted using the ‘pySCENIC' tool. We found that, in response to hypoxia, borderassociated macrophages underwent dynamic transcriptional changes and participated in the regulation of inflammatory-related pathways. Notably, the tumor necrosis factor pathway was activated by border-associated macrophages following ischemic stroke. The pySCENIC analysis indicated that the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(Stat3) was obviously upregulated in stroke, suggesting that Stat3 inhibition may be a promising strategy for treating border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation. Finally, we constructed an animal model to investigate the effects of border-associated macrophages depletion following a stroke. Treatment with liposomes containing clodronate significantly reduced infarct volume in the animals and improved neurological scores compared with untreated animals. Taken together, our results demonstrate comprehensive changes in border-associated macrophages following a stroke, providing a theoretical basis for targeting border-associated macrophages-induced neuroinflammation in stroke treatment.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China,Nos.82325031(to FX),82030059(to YC),82102290(to YG),U23A20485(to YC)Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project,No.2023ZD0505504(to FX),2023ZD0505500(to YC)the Key R&D Program of Shandong Province,No.2022ZLGX03(to YC).
文摘Global brain ischemia and neurological deficit are consequences of cardiac arrest that lead to high mortality.Despite advancements in resuscitation science,our limited understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying post-cardiac arrest brain injury have hindered the development of effective neuroprotective strategies.Previous studies primarily focused on neuronal death,potentially overlooking the contributions of non-neuronal cells and intercellular communication to the pathophysiology of cardiac arrest-induced brain injury.To address these gaps,we hypothesized that single-cell transcriptomic analysis could uncover previously unidentified cellular subpopulations,altered cell communication networks,and novel molecular mechanisms involved in post-cardiac arrest brain injury.In this study,we performed a single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the hippocampus from pigs with ventricular fibrillation-induced cardiac arrest at 6 and 24 hours following the return of spontaneous circulation,and from sham control pigs.Sequencing results revealed changes in the proportions of different cell types,suggesting post-arrest disruption in the blood-brain barrier and infiltration of neutrophils.These results were validated through western blotting,quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,and immunofluorescence staining.We also identified and validated a unique subcluster of activated microglia with high expression of S100A8,which increased over time following cardiac arrest.This subcluster simultaneously exhibited significant M1/M2 polarization and expressed key functional genes related to chemokines and interleukins.Additionally,we revealed the post-cardiac arrest dysfunction of oligodendrocytes and the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells into oligodendrocytes.Cell communication analysis identified enhanced post-cardiac arrest communication between neutrophils and microglia that was mediated by neutrophil-derived resistin,driving pro-inflammatory microglial polarization.Our findings provide a comprehensive single-cell map of the post-cardiac arrest hippocampus,offering potential novel targets for neuroprotection and repair following cardiac arrest.
文摘Breast cancer is a malignant tumor originating from breast epithelial tissue.In essence,breast epithelial cells undergo gene mutation under the influence of carcinogenic factors,leading to abnormal cell proliferation and loss of organism regulation,ultimately leading to the formation of tumors with invasive and metastatic capabilities.Carcinogenic factors of breast cancer involve multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms.Among them,disseminated tumor cells(DTCs)are considered important for treating breast cancer.However,traditional bulk sequencing techniques have limitations,such as the inability to distinguish individual cell differences and dilution of information from key cell subpopulations(such as cancer stem cells and rare immune cells).Single-cell sequencing(scRNA-seq)overcomes the heterogeneity of tumors that traditional sequencing cannot capture by analysing the molecular characteristics of single cells,providing a highresolution perspective for precise typing of breast cancer,exploration of the mechanism of the microenvironment,and personalized treatment.Through this technology,researchers can identify specific gene expression profiles of different cell subpopulations,thus providing a new basis for the molecular typing and personalized treatment of breast cancer.This article explains how single-cell sequencing is used to describe the origin of disseminated tumor cells(DTCs),analyse tumor heterogeneity,metastasis,etc.,and review the current literature on the use of scRNA-seq in breast cancer treatment.In the future,cell separation and processing steps in single-cell sequencing will be further improved to ensure the accuracy of the results and broader application in clinical diagnosis and treatment.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(226-2022-00035)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81600986).
文摘Down syndrome(DS)is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21(Hsa21).Children with DS have an increased frequency of respiratory tract infections,impaired alveolar and vascular development,and pulmonary hypertension.How trisomy 21 causes lung diseases remains poorly understood.In this study,we use the Dp16 mouse model,which contains a segmental chromosomal duplication of the entire Hsa21 syntenic region on mouse chromosome 16,to explore the gene dosage effects on DS-related lung diseases.The Dp16 mice present impaired alveolar development and inflammatory-like pathological changes.Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)analysis highlights increased APP-related interactions among male Dp16 lung cells.Specifically,altered antigen processing and presentation with increased MHC-II signaling are found in Dp16 immune cells.Reduced angiogenesis and altered inflammatory responses of Dp16 endothelial cells are also suggested.Moreover,scRNA-seq indicates hyperplasia of Dp16 vascular smooth muscle cells,which is validated by tissue immunofluorescence assessment.Transthoracic echocardiography further shows the existence of pulmonary hypertension in young Dp16 mice.Independent scRNA-seq analysis of the female lung cells recapitulates the majority of key findings identified in male mice,confirming the reproducibility of the results.Collectively,our results provide important clues for the further development of therapeutic approaches for DS-related lung diseases.
基金supported by the Tianjin Key Medical Discipline(Specialty)Construct Project,No.TJYXZDXK-027A(to SF)the National Key Research andDevelopment Project of Stem Cell and Transformation Research,No.2019YFA0112100(to SF)+2 种基金Tianjin Natural Science Foundation’s Youth Project for DiverseInvestments,No.21JCQNJC01300(to BF)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Youth Program),No.82102563(to BF)Tianjin Major Science andTechnology Special Projects and Engineering Projects,No.21ZXJBSY00080(to YR).
文摘Few studies have investigated alterations in the immune cell microenvironment of the dorsal root ganglia following spinal cord injury and whether these modifications facilitate axonal regeneration.In this study,we used a single-cell RNA sequencing dataset to create a comprehensive profile of the diverse cell types in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord of a mid-thoracic contusion injury model in cynomolgus monkeys.Cell communication analysis indicated that specific signaling events among various dorsal root ganglia cell types occur in response to spinal cord injury.Single-cell analysis using dimensionality reduction clustering identified distinct molecular signatures for nine cell types,including macrophage subpopulations,and differential gene expression profiles between dorsal root ganglia cells and spinal cord cells following spinal cord injury.The macrophage subpopulations were categorized into 11 clusters(MC0-MC10)based on differentially expressed genes,with the top 10 genes being ABCA6,RBMS3,EBF1,LAMA4,ANTXR2,LAMA2,SOX5,FOXP2,GHR,and APOD.MC0,MC1,and MC2 constituted the predominant macrophage populations.MC4,MC6,and MC9 were nearly absent in the spinal cord,but exhibited significant increases in the dorsal root ganglia post-spinal cord injury.Notably,these subpopulations possess a strong capacity for regulating axonal regeneration.The developmental progression of dorsal root ganglia macrophages after spinal cord injury was elucidated using cell trajectory and pseudo-time analyses.Genes such as EBF1(MC6 and MC9 marker),RBMS3(MC6 and MC9 marker),and ABCA6(MC6 marker)showed high expression levels in the critical pathways of macrophage function.Through ligand-receptor pair analysis,we determined that the effects of macrophages on microglia are predominantly mediated through interaction pairs(e.g.,SPP1-CD44,LAMC1-CD44,and FN1-CD44),potentially facilitating specific cellular communications within the immune microenvironment.The single-cell RNA sequencing dataset used in this study represents the first comprehensive transcriptional analysis of the dorsal root ganglia after spinal cord injury in cynomolgus monkeys,encompassing nearly all cell types within the dorsal root ganglia region.Using this dataset,we evaluated diverse subtypes of macrophages in the post-spinal cord injury dorsal root ganglia area and examined the signaling pathways that facilitate interactions among immune response-related macrophages in the dorsal root ganglia.Findings from this study provide a theoretical basis for understanding how the immune microenvironment influences the regenerative capacity of dorsal root ganglia neurons after spinal cord injury and offer novel insights into the complex processes underlying the pathobiology of spinal cord injury.
基金partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62075137)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2023A1515140161)+3 种基金the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation of China(2021JJB 110003)the Dongguan Science and Technology of Social Development Program(20231800936312)the high-level talent program of Dongguan University of Technology(No.221110080)the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen(No.SZSM202103014).
文摘Many spore-forming Bacillus species can cause serious human diseases,because of accidental Bacillusspore infection.Thus,developing an identification strategy with both high sensitivity and specificity is greatly in demand.In this work,we proposed a novel approach named multi-head self-attention mechanism-guided neural network Raman platform to identify living Bacillus spores within a single-cell resolution.The multi-head self-attention mechanism-guided neural network Raman platform was created by combining single-cell Raman spectroscopy,convolutional neural network(CNN),and multi-head self-attention mechanism.To address the limited size of the original spectra dataset,Gaussian noise-based spectra augmentation was employed to increase the number of single-cell Raman spectra datasets for CNN training.Owing to the assistance of both spectra augmentation and multi-head self-attention mechanism,the obtained prediction accuracy of five Bacillus spore species was further improved from 92.29±0.82%to 99.43±0.15%.To figure out the spectra differences covered by the multi-head self-attention mechanism-guided CNN,the relative classification weight from typical Raman bands was visualized via multi-head self-attention mechanism curve.In the process of spectra augmentation from 0 to 1000,the distribution of relative classification weight varied from a discrete state to a more concentrated phase.More importantly,these highlighted four Raman bands(1017,1449,1576,and 1660 cm^(-1))were assigned large weights,showing that the spectra differences in the Raman bands produced the largest contribution to prediction accuracy.It can be foreseen that,our proposed sorting platform has great potential in accurately identifying Bacillus and its related genera species at a single-cell level.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42025704,22206033,82473581,22193052).
文摘Immune modulation is crucial for male reproduction and fertility.Metals and metalloids(metals)have been extensively studied for their immunomodulatory effects.Whether metal exposure affects semen quality through immune modulation is unclear.In the present study,we explored the associations between exogenous metals within immune cells,immune cell proportions,and semen quality among 84 healthy men who repeatedly provided 266 semen samples over 90 days.We employed mass cytometry(CyTOF)technology to identify immune cells in semen and measured exogenous metals in these cells at the single-cell resolution.After adjusting for potential confounders,most detected metals in immune cells were inversely associated with the proportion of immune cells in semen samples(all p<0.05),indicating the adverse effects of exogenous metals on immune cells.The proportion of immune cells showed N-shaped,nonlinear associations with sperm concentration,total count,progressive motility,and total motility.Mediation analyses showed that the percentage of indirect effects of exogenous metals on sperm quality parameters via immune cells ranged from 15.11%to 54.29%.Overall,our findings unravel the indirect effects of exogenous metal exposure on male reproductive health via immune cells,contributing valuable insights into the complex interplay between environmental factors,immune cells,and human semen quality.
基金supported by the Guangdong Provincial Key Area Research and Development Program[grant number 2022B0202090002]China Postdoctoral Science Foundation[grant number 2024M760977].
文摘Background Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid(GenX),a substitute for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances,has been widely detected in various environmental matrices and foods recently,attracting great attention.However,a systematic characterization of its reproductive toxicity is still missing.This study aims to explore the male reproductive toxicity caused by GenX exposure and the potential cellular and molecular regulatory mechanisms behind it.Results Normally developing mice were exposed to GenX,and testicular tissue was subsequently analyzed and validated using single-cell RNA sequencing.Our results revealed that GenX induced severe testicular damage,disrupted the balance between undifferentiated and differentiated spermatogonial stem cells,and led to strong variation in the cellular dynamics of spermatogenesis.Furthermore,GenX exposure caused global upregulation of testicular somatic cellular inflammatory responses,increased abnormal macrophage differentiation,and attenuated fibroblast adhesion,disorganizing the somatic-germline interactions.Conclusions In conclusion,this study revealed complex cellular dynamics and transcriptome changes in mouse testis after GenX exposure,providing a valuable resource for understanding its reproductive toxicity.
基金supported by the Institute for Basic Science (IBS-R022-D1)Global Learning&Academic Research Institution for Master’s/Ph D students and Post-Doc Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Ministry of Education (RS-2023-00301938)+1 种基金National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean government (RS-2024-00406152,MSIT)Additional financial support was provided by the 2024 Post-Doc Development Program of Pusan National University,Korea Medical Institute,and KREONET。
文摘Polystyrene nanoparticles pose significant toxicological risks to aquatic ecosystems,yet their impact on zebrafish(Danio rerio)embryonic development,particularly erythropoiesis,remains underexplored.This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively evaluate the effects of polystyrene nanoparticle exposure on erythropoiesis in zebrafish embryos.In vivo validation experiments corroborated the transcriptomic findings,revealing that polystyrene nanoparticle exposure disrupted erythrocyte differentiation,as evidenced by the decrease in mature erythrocytes and concomitant increase in immature erythrocytes.Additionally,impaired heme synthesis further contributed to the diminished erythrocyte population.These findings underscore the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on hematopoietic processes,highlighting their potential to compromise organismal health in aquatic environments.
基金Chinese Scholarship Council(202206240086)National Natural Science Foundation of China(81974099,82170785,81974098,82170784)+4 种基金National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2009303)programs from Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province(2021YFH0172)Young Investigator Award of Sichuan University 2017(2017SCU04A17)Technology Innovation Research and Development Project of Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau(2019-YF05-00296-SN)Sichuan University-Panzhihua science and technology cooperation special fund(2020CDPZH-4).
文摘In recent years,advancements in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics,which are highly regarded developments in the current era,particularly the emerging integration of single-cell and spatiotemporal transcriptomics,have enabled a detailed molecular comprehension of the complex regulation of cell fate.The insights obtained from these methodologies are anticipated to significantly contribute to the development of personalized medicine.Currently,single-cell technology is less frequently utilized for prostate cancer compared with other types of tumors.Start-ing from the perspective of RNA sequencing technology,this review outlined the signifcance of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)in prostate cancer research,encompassing preclinical medicine and clinical applications.We summarize the differences between mouse and human prostate cancer as revealed by scRNA-seq studies,as well as a combination of multi-omics methods involving scRNA-seq to highlight the key molecular targets for the diagnosis,treatment,and drug resistance characteristics of prostate cancer.These studies are expected to provide novel insights for the development of immunotherapy and other innovative treatment strategies for castration-resistant prostate cancer.Furthermore,we explore the potential clinical applications stemming from other single-cell technologies in this review,paving the way for future research in precision medicine.
基金supported by the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI)the Ministry of Health&Welfare,Republic of Korea (HR22C1734)+2 种基金the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea (2020R1A6A1A03043539,2020M3A9D8037604,2022R1C1C1004756)(to SBL)the NRF of Korea (2022R1C1C1005741 and RS-2023-00217595)the new faculty research fund of Ajou University School of Medicine (to EJL)。
文摘Elucidating the complex dynamic cellular organization in the hypothalamus is critical for understanding its role in coordinating fundamental body functions. Over the past decade, single-cell and spatial omics technologies have significantly evolved, overcoming initial technical challenges in capturing and analyzing individual cells. These high-throughput omics technologies now offer a remarkable opportunity to comprehend the complex spatiotemporal patterns of transcriptional diversity and cell-type characteristics across the entire hypothalamus. Current single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing methods comprehensively quantify gene expression by exploring distinct phenotypes across various subregions of the hypothalamus. However, single-cell/single-nucleus RNA sequencing requires isolating the cell/nuclei from the tissue, potentially resulting in the loss of spatial information concerning neuronal networks. Spatial transcriptomics methods, by bypassing the cell dissociation, can elucidate the intricate spatial organization of neural networks through their imaging and sequencing technologies. In this review, we highlight the applicative value of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in exploring the complex molecular-genetic diversity of hypothalamic cell types, driven by recent high-throughput achievements.
文摘Background:This study aims to identify distinct cellular subtypes within brain tissue using single-cell transcriptomic analysis,focusing on specific biomarkers that differentiate cell types and the effects of traditional and exercise therapy.Methods:Four samples were analyzed:older control(OC),older exercise(OE),younger control(YC),and younger exercise(YE).Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to distinguish cellular subtypes through their biomarker profiles.Data visualization included violin and t-SNE plots to illustrate biomarker expression across cell clusters such as oligodendrocytes,microglia,and astrocytes.Additionally,BV2 cells were exposed to amyloid-beta fragments to simulate Alzheimer’s disease,assessing the impact of exercise-induced cellular responses.Results:Distinct cellular subtypes were identified:oligodendrocytes(MBP,St18),microglia(Dock8),and astrocytes(Aqp4,Gpc5).Sample OE was predominantly oligodendrocytes,while YE had more astrocytes,inhibitory neurons,and Canal-Retzius cells.YC showed a significant presence of Olfm3+ganglion neurons.ZEB1 gene knockout revealed changes in SMAD family gene expression,which regulate ferroptosis.Oxidative stress levels were also evaluated.Conclusion:This profiling enhances our understanding of brain cellular functions and interactions,potentially informing targeted therapies in neurological research.Exercise may influence brain cell immune responses and cell death pathways by regulating specific gene expressions,offering new insights for treating neuroinflammation and degeneration.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(22374080,22174068,21722504)Primary Research&Development Plan of Jiangsu Province(BK20221303,BE2022796)+1 种基金Open Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine(SKLRM-2022BP1,JX116GSP20240507)Science and Technology Development Fund of NJMU(NJMUQY2022003)。
文摘Drug resistance remains a major challenge in breast cancer chemotherapy,yet the metabolic alterations underlying this phenomenon are not fully understood.There is much evidence indicating the cellular heterogeneity among cancer cells,which exhibit varying degrees of metabolic reprogramming and thus may result in differential contributions to drug resistance.A home-built single-cell quantitative mass spectrometry(MS)platform,which integrates micromanipulation and electro-osmotic sampling,was developed to quantitatively profile the tricarboxylic acid(TCA)cycle metabolites at the single-cell level.Using this platform,the metabolic profiles of drug-sensitive MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their drug-resistant derivative MCF-7/ADR cells were compared.This results revealed a selective upregulation of downstream TCA cycle metabolites includingα-ketoglutarate,succinate,fumarate,and malate in drug-resistant cancer cells,while early TCA metabolites remained largely unchanged.Furthermore,notable variations in the abundance of the metabolites were observed in individual cells.The comparative analysis also revealed that not all MCF-7/ADR cells exhibit the same degree of metabolic deviation from the parental line in the metabolites during resistance acquisition.The observed metabolic profiles indicate enhanced glutaminolysis,altered mitochondrial electron transport chain activity,and increased metabolic flexibility in drug-resistant cancer cells that support their survival under chemotherapeutic stress.The findings further suggest the potential for incorporating cellular metabolic heterogeneity into future drug resistance studies.
基金supported by the National Centre for Research and Development TECHMATSTRATEG-Ⅲ/0027/2019,POWR.03.02.00-00-I006/17the IDUB UAM。
文摘Meniscus injuries are widespread and the available treatments do not offer enough healing potential.Here,we provide critical support for using pigs as a biological model for meniscal degeneration and the development of cutting-edge therapies in orthopedics.We present a single-cell transcriptome atlas of the meniscus,consisting of cell clusters corresponding to four major cell types:chondrocytes,endothelial cells,smooth muscle cells,and immune cells.Five distinct chondrocyte subclusters(CH0–CH4)were annotated,of which only one was widespread in both the red and white zones,indicating a major difference in the cellular makeup of the zones.Subclusters distinct to the white zone appear responsible for cartilage-specific matrix deposition and protection against adverse microenvironmental factors,while those in the red zone exhibit characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and are more likely to proliferate and migrate.Additionally,they induce remodeling actions in other chondrocyte subclusters and promote the proliferation and maturation of endothelial cells,inducing healing and vascularization processes.Considering that they have substantial remodeling capabilities,these subclusters should be of great interest for tissue engineering studies.We also show that the cellular makeup of the pig meniscus is comparable to that of humans,which supports the use of pigs as a model in orthopedic therapy development.
基金supported by the International Cooperation and Exchange Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32261133531)。
文摘The kidney is essential for maintaining fluid,electrolyte,and metabolite homeostasis,and for regulating blood pressure.The pig serves as a valuable biomedical model for human renal physiology,offering insights across different physiological states.In this study,single-cell RNA sequencing was used to profile 138469 cells from 12 pig kidney samples collected during the embryonic(E),fattening(F),and pregnancy(P)periods,identifying 29 cell types.Proximal tubule(PT)cells exhibited elevated expression of metabolism-related transcription factors(TFs),including GPD1,ACAA1,and AGMAT,with validation across multiple individuals,periods,and species.Fluorescence homologous double-labeling of paraffin sections further confirmed the expression of ACAA1 and AGMAT in PT cells.Comparative analysis of pig and human kidneys revealed a high degree of similarity among corresponding cell types.Analysis of cell-type heterogeneity highlighted the diversity of thick ascending limb(TAL)cells,identifying a TAL subpopulation related to immune function.Additionally,the functional heterogeneity of kidney-resident macrophages(KRM)was explored across different anatomical sites.In the renal medulla,KRM were implicated in phagocytosis and leukocyte activation,whereas in the renal pelvis,they functioned as ligands,recruiting neutrophils with bactericidal activity to the renal pelvis to combat urinary tract infections.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China,Grant/Award Number:2022ZD0210100Beijing Nova Star Program,Grant/Award Number:2022002+2 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Beijing and Haidian Collaboration Foundation,Grant/Award Number:L232079National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:82172608,82273343,81902975 and 82101356Capital Medical University Fund for Excellent Young Scholars,Grant/Award Number:KCB2304。
文摘Background:Medulloblastoma(MB)is one of the most common malignant brain tumors that mainly affect children.Various approaches have been used to model MB to facilitate investigating tumorigenesis.This study aims to compare the recapitulation of MB between subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft(sPDX),intracranial patient-derived xenograft(iPDX),and genetically engineered mouse models(GEMM)at the single-cell level.Methods:We obtained primary human sonic hedgehog(SHH)and group 3(G3)MB samples from six patients.For each patient specimen,we developed two sPDX and iPDX models,respectively.Three Patch+/-GEMM models were also included for sequencing.Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to compare gene expression profiles,cellular composition,and functional pathway enrichment.Bulk RNA-seq deconvolution was performed to compare cellular composition across models and human samples.Results:Our results showed that the sPDX tumor model demonstrated the highest correlation to the overall transcriptomic profiles of primary human tumors at the single-cell level within the SHH and G3 subgroups,followed by the GEMM model and iPDX.The GEMM tumor model was able to recapitulate all subpopulations of tumor microenvironment(TME)cells that can be clustered in human SHH tumors,including a higher proportion of tumor-associated astrocytes and immune cells,and an additional cluster of vascular endothelia when compared to human SHH tumors.Conclusions:This study was the first to compare experimental models for MB at the single-cell level,providing value insights into model selection for different research purposes.sPDX and iPDX are suitable for drug testing and personalized therapy screenings,whereas GEMM models are valuable for investigating the interaction between tumor and TME cells.
基金Supported by the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangzhou,No.2024A03J0102the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province for Distinguished Young Scholar,No.2022B1515020024+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82070574the Key Research and Development Program of Guangzhou,No.2023B03J1298.
文摘BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is notorious for its aggressive progression and dismal prognosis,with chromatin accessibility dynamics emerging as pivotal yet poorly understood drivers.AIM To dissect how multilayered chromatin regulation sustains oncogenic transcription and tumor-stroma crosstalk in HCC,we combined multiomics single cell analysis.METHODS We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and paired single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing data of HCC samples,complemented by bulk RNA sequencing validation across The Cancer Genome Atlas,Liver Cancer Institute,and GSE25907 cohorts.Cell type-specific chromatin architectures were resolved via ArchR,with regulatory hubs identified through peak-to-gene linkages and coaccessibility networks.Functional validation employed A485-mediated histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation suppression and small interfering RNA targeting DGAT1.RESULTS Malignant hepatocytes exhibited expanded chromatin accessibility profiles,characterized by increased numbers of accessible peaks and larger physical regions despite reduced peak intensity.Enhancer-like peaks enriched in malignant regulation,forming long-range hubs.Eighteen enhancer-like peak-related genes showed tumor-specific overexpression and diagnostic accuracy,correlating with poor prognosis.Intercellular coaccessibility analysis revealed tumor-stroma symbiosis via shared chromatin states.Pharmacological histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation inhibition paradoxically downregulated DGAT1,the hub gene most strongly regulated by chromatin accessibility.DGAT1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation.CONCLUSION Multilayered chromatin reprogramming sustains HCC progression through tumor-stroma crosstalk and DGAT1-related oncogenic transcription,defining targetable epigenetic vulnerabilities.
基金Supported by the Shandong Province Medical and Health Science and Technology Development Plan Project,No.202203030713Yantai Science and Technology Program,No.2024YD005,No.2024YD007 and No.2024YD010and Science and Technology Program of Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University,No.YTFY2022KYQD06。
文摘As a common malignant tumor,the heterogeneity of colorectal cancer plays an important role in tumor progression and treatment response.In recent years,the rapid development of single-cell transcriptomics and spatial transcriptomics technologies has provided new perspectives for resolving the heterogeneity of colorectal cancer.These techniques can reveal the complexity of cellular composition and their interactions in the tumor microenvironment,and thus facilitate a deeper understanding of tumor biology.However,in practical applications,researchers still face technical challenges such as data processing and result interpretation.The aim of this paper is to explore how to use artificial intelligence(AI)technology to enhance the research efficiency of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics,analyze the current research progress and its limitations,and explore how combining AI approaches can provide new ideas for decoding the heterogeneity of colorectal cancer,and ultimately provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for the clinical precision treatment.
基金the Medical Technologies R&D Program of Henan Province:Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Action of Intermittent Oro-esophageal Tube Feeding in the Treatment of Post-Stroke Dysphagia(No.LHGJ20220348)Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province:Mechanism of Acupuncture in Preventing and Treating Limb Spasticity after Stroke Based on Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Lactylation and Mitophagy(No.232300420256)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate the possible mechanisms by which acupuncture improves post-stroke limb spasticity using single-cell sequencing technology.METHODS:Thirty-two rats were randomly assigned to four groups:Control,Sham,Model,and Acupuncture.The middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model was established,and the acupuncture groups received acupuncture treatment.After treatment,brain morphological changes and the degree of neurological impairment were assessed.The effect of acupuncture on the proportion of brain cell types in the ischemic penumbra of MCAO rats was analyzed using single-cell transcriptomics,and the expression and enrichment of differentially expressed genes were examined.Finally,selected differential genes were validated by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS:Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining showed that the infarct area in MCAO rats was significantly reduced after acupuncture.Garcia scoring,hematoxylin-eosin staining,Nissl staining,and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling demonstrated that acupuncture reduced brain damage.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that acupuncture significantly decreased serum inflammatory factors,including interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α).Single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed marked changes in cell type proportions between the Acupuncture and Model groups.A total of 207 differential genes were identified,including 157 upregulated and 50 downregulated genes.Analysis of macrophage-specific differential genes in the ischemic penumbra showed enrichment in Gene Ontology terms such as Ras protein signal transduction and regulation of GTPase activity,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways including lysosome,axon guidance,and mitogenactivated protein kinase signaling.S100a8 and leukocyte specific transcript 1(LST1)were identified as key differential genes.CONCLUSION:These findings suggest that the key differential genes S100a8 and LST1 may alleviate poststroke limb spasticity by regulating the inflammatory response in the ischemic penumbra.
基金supported by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangxi Province,China (JXARS-09)Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province,China (2020B1212060060)。
文摘Pigeons and certain other avian species produce a milklike secretion in their crop sacs to nourish offspring,yet the detailed processes involved are not fully elucidated.This study investigated the crop sacs of 225-day-old unpaired non-lactating male pigeons(MN)and males initiating lactation on the first day after incubation(ML).Using RNA sequencing,ribosomeprofiling,andsingle-cell transcriptome sequencing(scRNA-seq),we identified a significant up-regulation of genes associated with ribosome assembly and protein synthesis in ML compared to MN.Results from scRNA-seq analysis identified 12distinct cell types and 22 clusters,with secretory epithelial cells(SECs)exhibiting marked expression of plasma cell markers,including IGLL1 and MZB1.RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization(RNA FISH)and IgY quantification confirmed the critical role of SECs in producing endogenous IgY during lactation.We propose that fibroblast-derived BAFF signals activate SECs,mimicking B cell transformation and enhancing protein production through the unfolded protein response(UPR).These findings shed light on the cellular dynamics of pigeon milk production and contribute to a broader understanding of avian biology.
