Publication
Title
Single-nucleus RNA-Seq is not suitable for detection of microglial activation genes in humans
Author
Abstract
Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) is used as an alternative to single-cell RNA-seq, as it allows transcriptomic profiling of frozen tissue. However, it is unclear whether snRNA-seq is able to detect cellular state in human tissue. Indeed, snRNA-seq analyses of human brain samples have failed to detect a consistent microglial activation signature in Alzheimer's disease. Our comparison of microglia from single cells and single nuclei of four human subjects reveals that, although most genes show similar relative abundances in cells and nuclei, a small population of genes (similar to 1%) is depleted in nuclei compared to whole cells. This population is enriched for genes previously implicated in microglial activation, including APOE, CST3, SPP1, and CD74, comprising 18% of previously identified microglial-disease-associated genes. Given the low sensitivity of snRNA-seq to detect many activation genes, we conclude that snRNA-seq is not suited for detecting cellular activation in microglia in human disease.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Cell reports
Publication
2020
ISSN
2211-1247
DOI
10.1016/J.CELREP.2020.108189
Volume/pages
32 :13 (2020) , 13 p.
Article Reference
108189
ISI
000573722100004
Pubmed ID
32997994
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Research group
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 07.12.2020
Last edited 06.10.2024
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