Cited by 983Single-cell and spatial transcriptomicsGenomics and Chromatin DynamicsGene Regulatory Network Analysis

Integrative single-cell analysis of transcriptional and epigenetic states in the human adult brain

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Lake, Blue B, Chen, Song, Sos, Brandon C, Fan, Jean, Kaeser, Gwendolyn E, Yung, Yun C, Duong, Thu E, Gao, Derek +3 more·2018·Nature Biotechnology

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Detailed characterization of the cell types in the human brain requires scalable experimental approaches to examine multiple aspects of the molecular state of individual cells, as well as computational integration of the data to produce unified cell-state annotations. Here we report improved high-throughput methods for single-nucleus droplet-based sequencing (snDrop-seq) and single-cell transposome hypersensitive site sequencing (scTHS-seq). We used each method to acquire nuclear transcriptomic and DNA accessibility maps for >60,000 single cells from human adult visual cortex, frontal cortex, and cerebellum. Integration of these data revealed regulatory elements and transcription factors that underlie cell-type distinctions, providing a basis for the study of complex processes in the brain, such as genetic programs that coordinate adult remyelination. We also mapped disease-associated risk variants to specific cellular populations, which provided insights into normal and pathogenic cellular processes in the human brain. This integrative multi-omics approach permits more detailed single-cell interrogation of complex organs and tissues.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nbt.4038

Cites

67 of 67 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • RORB showed higher expression and a more distinctive cluster distribution in this case compared to previously published datasets.

    “we identified that RORB showed higher expression and a more distinctive cluster distribution (Supp. Figure 12, online resource).”

    From Distinct tau neuropathology and cellular profiles of an APOE3 Christchurch homozygote protected against autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s dementia (2022) · cites this paper as [20]

    The Results section (“Cell type and Regional Heterogeneity from snDrop-seq Data”; page unavailable) identifies three RORB-positive excitatory-neuron subpopulations, so the paper provides a relevant published dataset for comparison. It does not assess the citing authors’ case or establish that RORB expression is higher and its cluster distribution more distinctive in that case. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The expression of neurogenesis-related genes in these neurons can be contrasted to previous findings in control cases and decreased adult neurogenesis in AD patients.

    “The expression of neurogenesis-related genes in these neurons can be contrasted to previous findings in control cases [20, 21] and decreased adult neurogenesis in AD patients [25].”

    From Distinct tau neuropathology and cellular profiles of an APOE3 Christchurch homozygote protected against autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s dementia (2022) · cites this paper as [20]

    The Results section on cell-type and regional heterogeneity reports gene-expression profiles for neuronal subtypes in adult human brain tissue, supporting their use as a previous comparison. But the paper’s explicit neurogenesis-related expression finding concerns oligodendrocyte precursor maturation, not those neurons. The decreased adult neurogenesis in AD is attributed to a different citation [25], not this source. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • snRNA-Seq has enabled detailed profiling of vulnerable neuronal subtypes and glial populations.

    “This technique has enabled detailed profiling of vulnerable neuronal subtypes and glial populations.”

    From Artificial intelligence-driven multi-omics approaches in Alzheimer's disease: Progress, challenges, and future directions (2025) · cites this paper as [155]

    The Results section, “Cell type and Regional Heterogeneity from snDrop-seq Data” (page not available), describes detailed resolution of neuronal subtypes and glial populations. The paper also maps disease-risk variants to cell types, but it does not establish that the neuronal subtypes profiled were vulnerable to disease. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • By isolating nuclei rather than whole cells, snRNA-Seq retains transcriptional fidelity while avoiding cell dissociation artifacts.

    “By isolating nuclei rather than whole cells, snRNA-Seq retains transcriptional fidelity while avoiding cell dissociation artifacts155,165.”
  • Recent advances in single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-Seq) have extended transcriptomic analysis to frozen or archived post-mortem brain tissues.

    “Recent advances in single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-Seq) have extended transcriptomic analysis to frozen or archived post-mortem brain tissues.”

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [56]Marques S Oligodendrocyte heterogeneity in the mouse juvenile and adult central nervous system Science 352 1326 1329 2016 27284195 PMC5221728

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Authors
Lake, B. B., Chen, S., Sos, B. C., Fan, J., Kaeser, G. E., Yung, Y. C., Duong, T. E., Gao, D., Chun, J., Kharchenko, P. V., & Zhang, K.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (US)
Corresponding author
  • Chun, Jerold
  • Kharchenko, Peter V
  • Zhang, Kun
Venue
Nature Biotechnology
Published
2017-12-11
Volume
36
Issue
1
Pages
70-80
ISSN
  • 0733-222X (ISSN-L)
  • 1087-0156
  • 1546-1696
OpenAlex
W2952602120
Cited by
983
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 65 · 2025: 91 · 2024: 99 · 2023: 117 · 2022: 153 · 2021: 163 · 2020: 147 · 2019: 98 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 3
FWCI
33.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Biotechnology (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (P50AG005131, T32AG000216)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL131768)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (P50MH106933, U01MH098977)
  • National Cancer Institute (F99CA222750, F31CA206236)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (L40 HD093312, K12HD000850)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
Keywords
DNA accessibility, epigenetics, cell type annotation, transcription factors, regulatory elements, visual cortex, frontal cortex, cerebellum, remyelination, multi-omics integration
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain, Cerebellum, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Visual Cortex, Sequence Analysis, RNA, Epigenesis, Genetic, Single-Cell Analysis, High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing, Transcriptome

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