Nature Communications August, 2022 by Mathieu Claireaux et al.
A public antibody class recognizes an S2 epitope exposed on open conformations of SARS-CoV-2 spike

Claireaux et al. aimed to guide vaccine improvement by finding out how the unexposed immune system reacts to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry helped them describe the reactive B cell repertoire. They identified a non-neutralizing antibody class as a main factor in the unexposed SARS-CoV-2 response.

Nature Communications March, 2022 by Karin D. Prummel et al.
Hand2 delineates mesothelium progenitors and is reactivated in mesothelioma

Prummel et al. studied the early embryonic origins of mesothelia in zebrafish, mice, and humans. Single-cell RNA sequencing of zebrafish early lateral plate mesoderm revealed a heterogeneous progenitor pool. Hand2 was found as a marker for mesothelial progenitors. These progenitors form visceral and parietal mesothelium.

Nature Communications February, 2022 by Vanessa Donega et al.
Single-cell profiling of human subventricular zone progenitors identifies SFRP1 as a target to re-activate progenitors

Progenitors of the adult brain’s subventricular zone remain mostly in a quiescent state. The mechanisms that regulate this quiescent state are still unclear. Here, the authors isolate progenitors for SORT-seq analysis, which revealed their identity as late oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Then, they revealed the Wnt pathway antagonist SFRP1 as a possible signal that promotes the quiescence of progenitors.

Nature Communications December, 2021 by Mergim Ramosaj et al.
Lipid droplet availability affects neural stem/progenitor cell metabolism and proliferation

This paper investigates the role of lipid droples in the regulation of neural stem/progenitor cells. Using SORT-seq among other techniques, the authors show that lipid droplets are highly abundant in adult mouse neural stem/progenitor cells, and suggest that lipid droplet levels influence their metabolism and cell fate.

Nature Communications October, 2021 by Lydia Krabbendam et al.
CD127+ CD94+ innate lymphoid cells expressing granulysin and perforin are expanded in patients with Crohn’s disease

The researchers designate two distinct innate lymphoid cell subtypes. Then, using single-cell RNA sequencing and further characterization methods, one subtype was found to express toxic compounds granulysin and perforin in the intestines of Chron’s disease patients.

Nature Communications September, 2021 by Emilie Crouchet et al.
A human liver cell-based system modeling a clinical prognostic liver signature for therapeutic discovery

A lack of suitable experimental models hampers drug discovery for chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. So Crouchet et al. developed a human liver cell–based model predicting long-term liver disease progression toward hepatocellular carcinoma. They identified nizatidine as a potential therapeutic and, with single-cell RNA sequencing, could identify hepatocytes and certain liver macrophage subtypes as a potential therapeutical targets.