Single cell transcriptomics has emerged as a powerful approach to dissecting phenotypic heterogeneity in complex, unsynchronized cellular populations. However, many important biological questions demand quantitative analysis of large numbers of individual cells. Hence, new tools are urgently needed for efficient, inexpensive, and parallel manipulation of RNA from individual cells. We report a simple microfluidic platform for trapping single cell lysates in sealed, picoliter microwells capable of “printing” RNA on glass or capturing RNA on polymer beads. To demonstrate the utility of our system for single cell transcriptomics, we developed a highly scalable technology for genome-wide, single cell RNA-Seq. The current implementation of our device is pipette-operated, profiles hundreds of individual cells in parallel with library preparation costs of ~$0.10-$0.20/cell, and includes five lanes for simultaneous experiments. We anticipate that this system will ultimately serve as a general platform for large-scale single cell transcriptomics, compatible with both imaging and sequencing readouts.!Series_type = Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing Overall design: A microfluidic device that pairs sequence-barcoded mRNA capture beads with individual cells was used to barcode cDNA from individual cells which was then pre-amplified by in vitro transcription in a pool and converted into an Illumina RNA-Seq library. Libraries were generated from ~600 individual cells in parallel and extensive analysis was done on 396 cells from the U87 and MCF10a cell lines and from ~500 individual cells with extensive analysis on 247 cells from the U87 and WI-38 cell lines. Sequencing was done on the 3''-end of the transcript molecules. The first read contains cell-identifying barcodes that were present on the capture bead and the second read contains a unique molecular identifier (UMI) barcode, a lane-identifying barcode, and then the sequence of the transcript.
Scalable microfluidics for single-cell RNA printing and sequencing.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe biologic basis for NSCLC metastasis is not well understood. Here we addressed this deficiency by transcriptionally profiling tumors from a genetic mouse model of human lung adenocarcinoma that develops metastatic disease owing to the expression of K-rasG12D and p53R172H. As a tool to investigate the biologic basis for metastasis in this model and to query the roles of specific genes in this signature, we isolated adenocarcinoma cell lines from these mice and used them to develop a syngeneic tumor model in wild-type littermates. Transcriptional profiling of the highly metastatic subcutaneous tumors revealed genes that regulate, among other processes, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and intra-tumoral inflammation and angiogenesis, whereas the non-metastatic tumors did not.
Contextual extracellular cues promote tumor cell EMT and metastasis by regulating miR-200 family expression.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesMetastatic disease is a primary cause of cancer-related death, and factors governing tumor cell metastasis have not been fully elucidated. Here we addressed this question by using tumor cell lines derived from mice that develop metastatic lung adenocarcinoma owing to expression of mutant K-ras and p53. A feature of metastasis-prone tumor cells that distinguished them from metastasis-incompetent tumor cells was plasticity in response to changes in their microenvironment. They transited reversibly between epithelial and mesenchymal states, forming highly polarized epithelial spheres in 3-dimensional culture that underwent epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) following treatment with transforming growth factor-beta or injection into syngeneic mice. This plasticity was entirely dependent upon the microRNA-200 family, which decreased during EMT. Forced expression of miR-200 abrogated the capacity of these tumor cells to undergo EMT, invade, and metastasize and conferred transcriptional features of metastasis-incompetent tumor cells. We conclude that microenvironmental cues direct tumor metastasis by regulating miR-200 expression.
Contextual extracellular cues promote tumor cell EMT and metastasis by regulating miR-200 family expression.
Cell line
View SamplesPlexiform neurofibroma is a major contributor to morbidity in Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) patients. Macrophages and mast cells infiltrate neurofibroma, and data from mouse models implicate these leukocytes in neurofibroma development. Anti-inflammatory therapy targeting these cell populations has been suggested as a means to prevent neurofibroma development. Here, we compare gene expression in inflamed nerves from NF1 models which invariably form neurofibroma to those with inflammation driven by EGFR overexpression which rarely progresses to neurofibroma. We find that the chemokine Cxcl10 is uniquely up-regulated in NF1 mice that invariably develop neurofibroma. Global deletion of the CXCL10 receptor, Cxcr3, prevented neurofibroma development in these neurofibroma-prone mice. Cxcr3 expression localized to T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) in both inflamed nerves and neurofibromas. These data support a heretofore unappreciated role for T cells/DCs in neurofibroma initiation. Overall design: To identify cell populations associated with Cxcl10 expression, we utilized a single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) data set collected from 2-month Dhh-Cre;Nf1 fl/fl nerve/DRG using the 10x Genomics Chromium platform.
Cxcr3-expressing leukocytes are necessary for neurofibroma formation in mice.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe Zeb1 transcriptional repressor plays a key role in metastasis through the down-regulation of genes that are strong inducers of epithelial differentiation and inhibitors of stem-ness. Here we report that Zeb1 controls the expression of numerous oncogenic and tumor suppressive microRNAs (miRs). Zeb1 stimulated pro-migratory cytoskeletal processes by down-regulating miR-34a and activated Rho GTPases through Arhgap1, a Cdc42 GTPase activating protein and novel miR-34a target gene. Poor-prognosis human lung adenocarcinomas were highly enriched in a cytoskeletal gene signature activated by miR-34a down-regulation. These findings suggest that Zeb1 regulates a miR network and drives pro-migratory cytoskeletal processes through miR-34a.
ZEB1 drives prometastatic actin cytoskeletal remodeling by downregulating miR-34a expression.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
The miR-96 and RARγ signaling axis governs androgen signaling and prostate cancer progression.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesExpression levels of retinoic acid receptor gamma (NR1B3/RARG, encodes RARG), are commonly reduced in prostate cancer (PCa). Therefore we sought to establish the cellular and gene regulatory consequences of reduced RARG expression, and determine RARG regulatory mechanisms. RARG shRNA approaches in non-malignant (RWPE-1 and HPr1-AR) and malignant (LNCaP) prostate models revealed that reducing RARG levels, rather than adding exogenous retinoid ligand, had the greatest impact on prostate cell viability and gene expression. ChIP-Seq defined the RARG cistrome which was significantly enriched at active enhancers associated with AR binding sites. Reflecting a significant genomic role for RARG to regulate androgen signaling, RARG knockdown in HPr1-AR cells significantly regulated the magnitude of the AR transcriptome. RARG down-regulation was explained by increased miR-96 in PCa cell and mouse models, and TCGA PCa cohorts. Biochemical approaches confirmed that miR-96 directly regulated RARG expression and function. Capture of the miR-96 targetome by biotin-miR96 identified that RARG and a number of RARG interacting co-factors including TACC1 were all targeted by miR-96, and expression of these genes were prominently altered, positively and negatively, in the TCGA-PRAD cohort. Differential gene expression analyses between tumors in the TCGA-PRAD cohort with lower quartile expression levels of RARG and TACC1 and upper quartile miR-96, compared to the reverse, identified a gene network including several RARG target genes (e.g. SOX15) that significantly associated with worse disease free survival (hazard ratio 2.23, 95% CI 1.58 to 2.88, p=0.015). In summary, miR-96 targets a RARG network to govern AR signaling, PCa progression and disease outcome.
The miR-96 and RARγ signaling axis governs androgen signaling and prostate cancer progression.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesExpression levels of retinoic acid receptor gamma (NR1B3/RARG, encodes RARG), are commonly reduced in prostate cancer (PCa). Therefore we sought to establish the cellular and gene regulatory consequences of reduced RARG expression, and determine RARG regulatory mechanisms. RARG shRNA approaches in non-malignant (RWPE-1 and HPr1-AR) and malignant (LNCaP) prostate models revealed that reducing RARG levels, rather than adding exogenous retinoid ligand, had the greatest impact on prostate cell viability and gene expression. ChIP-Seq defined the RARG cistrome which was significantly enriched at active enhancers associated with AR binding sites. Reflecting a significant genomic role for RARG to regulate androgen signaling, RARG knockdown in HPr1-AR cells significantly regulated the magnitude of the AR transcriptome. RARG down-regulation was explained by increased miR-96 in PCa cell and mouse models, and TCGA PCa cohorts. Biochemical approaches confirmed that miR-96 directly regulated RARG expression and function. Capture of the miR-96 targetome by biotin-miR96 identified that RARG and a number of RARG interacting co-factors including TACC1 were all targeted by miR-96, and expression of these genes were prominently altered, positively and negatively, in the TCGA-PRAD cohort. Differential gene expression analyses between tumors in the TCGA-PRAD cohort with lower quartile expression levels of RARG and TACC1 and upper quartile miR-96, compared to the reverse, identified a gene network including several RARG target genes (e.g. SOX15) that significantly associated with worse disease free survival (hazard ratio 2.23, 95% CI 1.58 to 2.88, p=0.015). In summary, miR-96 targets a RARG network to govern AR signaling, PCa progression and disease outcome.
The miR-96 and RARγ signaling axis governs androgen signaling and prostate cancer progression.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesNeurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) patients develop benign neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). These incurable peripheral nerve tumors result from loss of NF1 tumor suppressor gene function, causing hyperactive Ras signaling. Activated Ras controls numerous downstream effectors, but specific pathways mediating effects of hyperactive Ras in NF1 tumors are unknown. Cross-species transcriptome analyses of mouse and human neurofibromas and MPNSTs identified global negative feedback of genes that regulate Ras-Raf- MEK- extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling in both species. Nonetheless, activation of ERK was sustained in mouse and human neurofibromas and MPNST. PD0325901, a highly selective pharmacological inhibitor of MEK, was used to test whether sustained Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling contributes to neurofibroma growth in the Nf1fl/fl;Dhh-cre mouse model or in NF1 patient MPNST cell xenografts. PD0325901 treatment reduced aberrantly proliferating cells in neurofibroma and MPNST, prolonged survival of mice implanted with human MPNST cells, and shrank neurofibromas in >80% of mice tested. PD0325901 also caused effects on tumor vasculature. Our data demonstrate that deregulated Ras/ERK signaling is critical for the growth of NF1 peripheral nerve tumors and provide strong rationale for testing MEK inhibitors in NF1 clinical trials.
MEK inhibition exhibits efficacy in human and mouse neurofibromatosis tumors.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe objective of this assay was to determine the effects of ZIKV on HUVEC cells Overall design: Purified HUVECs were infected with two strains of ZIKV (PRVABC59 and IBH30656) and mRNA was subjected for differential gene expression
Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Matrix Metalloproteinase Activation in Zika Virus Infected Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
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