Cited by 2,084Single-cell and spatial transcriptomicsRNA Research and SplicingGenomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Spatio-temporal transcriptome of the human brain

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Kang, Hyo Jung, Kawasawa, Yuka Imamura, Cheng, Feng, Zhu, Ying, Xu, Xuming, Li, Mingfeng, Sousa, André M. M., Pletikos, Mihovil +18 more·2011·Nature

Abstract

Brain development and function depend on the precise regulation of gene expression. However, our understanding of the complexity and dynamics of the transcriptome of the human brain is incomplete. Here we report the generation and analysis of exon-level transcriptome and associated genotyping data, representing males and females of different ethnicities, from multiple brain regions and neocortical areas of developing and adult post-mortem human brains. We found that 86 per cent of the genes analysed were expressed, and that 90 per cent of these were differentially regulated at the whole-transcript or exon level across brain regions and/or time. The majority of these spatio-temporal differences were detected before birth, with subsequent increases in the similarity among regional transcriptomes. The transcriptome is organized into distinct co-expression networks, and shows sex-biased gene expression and exon usage. We also profiled trajectories of genes associated with neurobiological categories and diseases, and identified associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms and gene expression. This study provides a comprehensive data set on the human brain transcriptome and insights into the transcriptional foundations of human neurodevelopment.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature10523

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  • DFC and CBC were chosen for analyses because both regions have been implicated in DS neuropathology and exhibit diverse transcriptional profiles over development.

    “We chose dorsal frontal cortex (DFC) and CBC for our analyses because both regions have been implicated in DS neuropathology (Hartley et al., 2014; Haydar and Reeves, 2012; Letourneau et al., 2014; Lott, 2012) and exhibit diverse transcriptional profiles over the course of development (Kang et al., 2011; Tebbenkamp et al., 2014).”
  • NaV1.2 is widely expressed throughout the human central nervous system but not in peripheral tissues.

    “NaV1.2 is widely expressed throughout the human central nervous system, but not in peripheral tissues [7,8].”

    From Progress in Understanding and Treating SCN2A-Mediated Disorders (2018) · cites this paper as [8]

    The Global transcriptome dynamics section describes gene expression across human brain regions, but the passages in our copy do not address NaV1.2 or its distribution outside the brain. Searches for NaV1.2, SCN2A, and peripheral-tissue expression found no passage supporting the claimed CNS-versus-peripheral distinction. (LLM, conf=0.75)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • SCN2A expression begins early in gestation, and channel dysfunction may alter brain development.

    “SCN2A expression begins early in gestation [8], and channel dysfunction may alter brain development.”

    From Progress in Understanding and Treating SCN2A-Mediated Disorders (2018) · cites this paper as [8]

    The citation is attached to the claim that SCN2A expression begins early in gestation, not to the subsequent statement about channel dysfunction. The Expression trajectories of neurodevelopment and Spatiotemporal gene expression sections discuss prenatal gene expression, but the passages found by searching for SCN2A and early fetal sodium-channel expression do not identify SCN2A or establish its onset. (LLM, conf=0.73)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Developmental stages 5 and 6 represent mid-gestation, when upper layer neurons are generated and neuronal differentiation including axonogenesis and dendritic arborization occurs.

    “Developmental stages 5 and 6 represent mid-gestation, the period during which upper layer neurons are generated and neuronal differentiation including axonogenesis and dendritic arborization takes place12,13.”
  • Genes associated with synaptic functions may be expressed early during intrauterine development (3-6 months gestational age).

    “Studies of the human brain transcriptome have shown that genes associated with synaptic functions may be expressed early during intrauterine development (3-6 months gestational age) 3 .”

    From Progress toward treatments for synaptic defects in autism (2013) · cites this paper as [3]

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Authors
Kang, H. J., Kawasawa, Y. I., Cheng, F., Zhu, Y., Xu, X., Li, M., Sousa, A. M. M., Pletikos, M., Meyer, K. A., Sedmak, G., Guennel, T., Shin, Y., Johnson, M. B., Krsnik, Ž., Mayer, S., Fertuzinhos, S., Umlauf, S., Lisgo, S. N., Vortmeyer, A., Weinberger, D. R., Mane, S., Hyde, T. M., Huttner, A., Reimers, M., Kleinman, J. E., & Šestan, N.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • Universidade do Porto (PT)
  • University of Zagreb (HR)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
  • Centre for Life (GB)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Šestan, Nenad
Venue
Nature
Published
2011-10
Volume
478
Issue
7370
Pages
483-489
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2022689242
Cited by
2,084
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 115 · 2025: 128 · 2024: 156 · 2023: 146 · 2022: 149 · 2021: 181 · 2020: 175 · 2019: 163 · 2018: 135 · 2017: 133 · 2016: 144 · 2015: 141 · 2014: 126 · 2013: 104 · 2012: 82
FWCI
40.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (GR082557)
  • Medical Research Council
  • National Institute of Mental Health (RC2MH089929, MH081896, MH089929, U01MH081896)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA-026119, R25DA026119)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS054273, U24NS051869, NS 054273)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD000836, R24HD000836)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Research and Splicing
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Keywords
human brain transcriptome, spatiotemporal gene expression, brain development, postmortem brain, sex-biased gene expression, exon usage, co-expression network, single nucleotide polymorphisms, gene expression trajectories, prefrontal cortex, neocortex, brain aging
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Brain, Child, Child, Preschool, Exons, Female, Fetus, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Quality Control, Sex Characteristics, Time Factors, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Gene Expression Profiling, Quantitative Trait Loci, Gene Regulatory Networks, Young Adult, Transcriptome

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