Journal Article

Unbiased classification of sensory neuron types by large-scale single-cell RNA sequencing

Usoskin, Dmitry, Haeggström, Jesper, Linnarsson, Sten, Furlan, Alessandro, Ernfors, Patrik, Hjerling-Leffler, Jens, Islam, Saiful, Kharchenko, Olga, Lou, Daohua, Abdo, Hind, Lönnerberg, Peter, Kharchenko, Peter V

2015

Overview

Based on single cell RNA-sequencing of 622 adult mouse sensory neurons, Usoskin et al . performed unbiased classification to identify the cellular and molecular complexity underlying somatic sensation. Eleven different subtypes were identified, including some previously unknown populations such as a new class of neuron which may be sensitive to inflammatory itch. The primary sensory system requires the integrated function of multiple cell types, although its full complexity remains unclear. We used comprehensive transcriptome analysis of 622 single mouse neurons to classify them in an unbiased manner, independent of any a priori knowledge of sensory subtypes. Our results reveal eleven types: three distinct low-threshold mechanoreceptive neurons, two proprioceptive, and six principal types of thermosensitive, itch sensitive, type C low-threshold mechanosensitive and nociceptive neurons with markedly different molecular and operational properties. Confirming previously anticipated major neuronal types, our results also classify and provide markers for new, functionally distinct subtypes. For example, our results suggest that itching during inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis is linked to a distinct itch-generating type. We demonstrate single-cell RNA-seq as an effective strategy for dissecting sensory responsive cells into distinct neuronal types. The resulting catalog illustrates the diversity of sensory types and the cellular complexity underlying somatic sensation.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group US,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 38/91 / 631/337/2019 / 631/378/2571/2573 / 631/378/2620 / 82/51 / Animal Genetics and Genomics / Animals / Behavior, Animal / Behavioral Sciences / Biochemistry / Biological Techniques / Biomedicine / Biophysics / Cell Size / Cells / Classification / Female / Gene expression / Gene Expression - physiology / Genetic aspects / Inflammation - physiopathology / Inflammation - psychology / Male / Methods / Mice / Mice, Inbred C57BL / Neurobiology / Neurons / Neurosciences / Physiological aspects / Pruritus - physiopathology / Pruritus - psychology / resource / RNA sequencing / Sensory Receptor Cells - chemistry / Sensory Receptor Cells - classification / Sensory receptors / Sequence Analysis, RNA - methods