Organs-on-a-chip, RNA sequencing and drug development
Unlocking the secret to effective cancer treatment? The answer could lie in organ-on-a-chip technology. Researchers of MIMETAS are using organs-on-a-chips to mimic the complex conditions of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. A recent study showed the impact of hypoxia on drugs’ effectiveness, offering potential targets for new drugs. Researchers often report that a lack of suitable experimental…
Neuron heterogeneity in the developing mouse brain
Deeply hidden in the brain, the tiny habenula is increasingly associated with different psychological roles. High-scale cellular heterogeneity may explain that multifunctionality. Here, we describe how single-cell RNA sequencing helps describe habenula diversity and function. The habenula is a tiny structure in the brain that is believed to be involved in the regulation of mood…
Insights into the hypertrophic heart with single-cell RNA sequencing
Heritable gene defects can cause the heart muscles to thicken and bring on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. How this occurs is not entirely clear. This blog describes how single-cell RNA sequencing helps understand the hypertrophic heart and provide directions for future genetic research. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heritable condition in which the heart thickens. It occurs in…
Guiding SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development with single-cell RNA sequencing
The road to an improved coronavirus vaccine is complex. Yet, it is one of the most pressing challenges in the effort to protect against COVID-19. This blog describes how single-cell RNA sequencing helps map out the small steps toward vaccine improvement. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is far from an end. Vaccines are at the basis…
Identification of cell clusters in the human cornea using single-cell RNA sequencing
In this blog, we describe how single-cell RNA sequencing is used to understand the cellular complexity of the cornea tissue. This blog is based on a study published in Scientific Reports in November 2021. The cornea is the part of the eye that allows light to enter and causes refraction of the light. It is…
Prediction of future relapse in MLL-rearranged infant ALL by single-cell RNA sequencing
In this blog, we describe how single-cell RNA sequencing allowed to predict which MLL- rearranged infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MLL-r iALL) patients are at risk of relapse. Furthermore, it allowed for characterization of the nature of relapse-predicting cells. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants is often driven by a specific mutation, in which a part…
A human liver model leads to therapeutic discovery for liver disease
In this blog, we will discuss how single-cell RNA sequencing contributed to the discovery of a therapeutic for the treatment of advanced liver disease. Liver fibrosis can lead to cirrhosis, which is a late-stage liver disease in which a large part of the liver tissue is replaced by fibrotic tissue, and to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)….
Transcriptome of human FDCs reveals role in antigen presentation to B cells and regulation of T cells
In this blog, we will discuss the contribution of single-cell RNA sequencing to uncovering the function of human follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in the germinal center (GC) microenvironment. The GC is a structure in secondary lymphoid tissues, such as tonsils, in which long-lived antibody-secreting plasma cells and memory B cells are produced. Within the GC,…
Transcription factors EOMES and T-BET regulate maturation of NK cells
In this blog, we will discuss how two transcription factors influence the maturation of natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are cells of the innate immune system and are part of the group 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). NK cells are important for antiviral and antitumor responses. Before NK cells are fully functionally active, they…
The influence of lipid droplets on brain stem cells
In this blog, we will discuss how lipid droplets can influence the stem cells in the brain. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop in different types of cells. In the brain, neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) have the potential to develop into neurons and other brain cells. Lipid metabolism influences the activity of NSPCs….
Heterogeneity of regulatory T cells: which type is best for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases?
In this blog, we will discuss a study by Sanquin that identified the most optimal T cells for immunotherapy, by using SORT-seq. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a type of immunotherapy in which T cell are isolated from the body, expanded, and placed back. These isolated T cells can be engineered in order to specifically…
Identification of a granulysin-secreting immune cell subset in Crohn’s disease patients
In this blog, we will discuss how single-cell sequencing contributed to the identification of a novel immune cell subset in Crohn’s disease. There are many different types of immune cells and within each cell type, various subsets can be distinguished. For example, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) can be subdivided into five subsets. These immune cells…