Defining cell populations with single-cell gene expression profiling: correlations and identification of astrocyte subpopulations

0391559 - BTÚ 2014 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Stahlberg, A. - Andersson, D. - Aurelius, J. - Faiz, M. - Pekna, M. - Kubista, Mikael - Pekny, M.
Defining cell populations with single-cell gene expression profiling: correlations and identification of astrocyte subpopulations.
Nucleic Acids Research. Roč. 39, č. 4 (2011). ISSN 0305-1048. E-ISSN 1362-4962
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR IAA500970904; GA ČR GAP303/10/1338
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50520701
Keywords : EMBRYONIC STEM-CELLS * REAL-TIME PCR * MESSENGER-RNA
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 8.026, year: 2011

Single-cell gene expression levels show substantial variations among cells in seemingly homogenous populations. Astrocytes perform many control and regulatory functions in the central nervous system. In contrast to neurons, we have limited knowledge about functional diversity of astrocytes and its molecular basis. To study astrocyte heterogeneity and stem/progenitor cell properties of astrocytes, we used single-cell gene expression profiling in primary mouse astrocytes and dissociated mouse neurosphere cells. The transcript number variability for astrocytes showed lognormal features and revealed that cells in primary cultures to a large extent co-express markers of astrocytes and neural stem/progenitor cells. We show how subpopulations of cells can be identified at single-cell level using unsupervised algorithms and that gene correlations can be used to identify differences in activity of important transcriptional pathways. We identified two subpopulations of astrocytes with distinct gene expression profiles. One had an expression profile very similar to that of neurosphere cells, whereas the other showed characteristics of activated astrocytes in vivo.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0220598