Cited by 296Single-cell and spatial transcriptomicsGenomics and Phylogenetic StudiesCell Image Analysis Techniques

Disentangling neural cell diversity using single-cell transcriptomics

Poulin, Jean-Francois, Tasic, Bosiljka, Hjerling-Leffler, Jens, Trimarchi, Jeffrey M, Awatramani, Rajeshwar·2016·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

Cellular specialization is particularly prominent in mammalian nervous systems, which are composed of millions to billions of neurons that appear in thousands of different 'flavors' and contribute to a variety of functions. Even in a single brain region, individual neurons differ greatly in their morphology, connectivity and electrophysiological properties. Systematic classification of all mammalian neurons is a key goal towards deconstructing the nervous system into its basic components. With the recent advances in single-cell gene expression profiling technologies, it is now possible to undertake the enormous task of disentangling neuronal heterogeneity. High-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing and multiplexed quantitative RT-PCR have become more accessible, and these technologies enable systematic categorization of individual neurons into groups with similar molecular properties. Here we provide a conceptual and practical guide to classification of neural cell types using single-cell gene expression profiling technologies.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nn.4366

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  • Single-cell transcriptomics provides unprecedented profiling depth and scalability, enabling comprehensive quantitative analysis and classification of cell types at scale.

    “Single-cell transcriptomics by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) or single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) provides unprecedented profiling depth and scalability, enabling comprehensive quantitative analysis and classification of cell types at scale2,3,7–9.”
  • Identifying molecularly distinct neuronal populations requires measuring multiple markers in individual cells.

    “Indeed, the identification of molecularly distinct neuronal populations requires the measurement of multiple markers in individual cells (reviewed in [10–12]).”
  • Limitations of single-cell transcriptomics mean that the complete developmental dendrogram of midbrain DA neurons still needs refinement.

    “However, because of the limitations of single cell transcriptomics (Box 1; reviewed in [10]), the complete developmental dendrogram of midbrain DA neurons remains to be further refined.”

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Authors
Poulin, J.-F., Tasic, B., Hjerling-Leffler, J., Trimarchi, J. M., & Awatramani, R.
Affiliations
  • Northwestern University (US)
  • Allen Institute for Brain Science (US)
  • Iowa State University (US)
Corresponding author
Awatramani, Rajeshwar
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2016-08-26
Volume
19
Issue
9
Pages
1131-1141
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W2516756255
Cited by
293
References
152
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 59 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 4
FWCI
4.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Vetenskapsrådet
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R21NS092034, R01NS096240)
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 Phylogenetic Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Cell Image Analysis Techniques
Keywords
neuronal cell types, neuronal heterogeneity, single-cell RNA sequencing, single-cell gene expression profiling, mammalian nervous system
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Cells, Cultured, Humans, Nerve Net, Neurons, Gene Expression Profiling, Transcriptome

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