Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE149524: Single Cell RNA-sequencing analysis of the juvenile and embryonic mouse enteric nervous system (ENS) of the small intestine

Bulk RNA sequencing

The study aimed to make a molecular definition of myenteric neuron classes in the mouse small intestine and describe their differentiation from enteric stem cells during embryogenesis. Method: We performed single cell RNA-sequencing of enteric neurons from small intestine at the juvenile stage (postnatal day (P)21) and ENS cells from the small intestine at embryonic day (E)15.5 and E18.5. We confirmed novel marker genes for all classes using immunohistochemistry and characterised the morphology/axons of three of newly discovered ENS neuron types. Results: 12 unique enteric neuron classes (ENC1-12) were identified and confirmed in native tissue by histochemical methods. The communication machinery (ligand, receptors, adhesion molecules), axonal patterns and morphologies were presented to infer functional roles of the ENCs. Analysis of embryonic transcriptomes revealed that enteric stem cells differentiate into two neuronal branches, that successively diversify into ENC1-7 and ENC8-12, respectively. Conclusion: Utilizing single cell RNA-sequencing we conclude that murine small intestine consists of 12 major myenteric classes that emerge through a step-wise fashion during embryonic development. Reference: Morarach, Mikhailova et al., 2020. BioRxiv 2020.03.02.955757 SOURCE: Ulrika Marklund (Ulrika.Marklund@ki.se) - Biomedicum C6 Karolinska Institutet