To determine the transcriptional responses to heat shock of inner ear sensory hair cells and supporting cells, we performed cell-type-specific transcriptional profiling using the RiboTag method, which allows for immunoprecipitation of actively translating mRNAs from specific cell types. RNA-Seq differential gene expression analyses demonstrated that RiboTag identified known cell type-specific markers as well as new markers for hair cells and supporting cells.  Gene expression differences suggest that both hair cells and supporting cells exhibit a transcriptional heat shock response. However, hair cells and supporting cells expressed different members of the heat shock protein family in response to heat stress, and supporting cells expressed a larger number of HSPs. Only one HSP, Chaperonin Containing T-Complex Polypeptide 1 Subunit 8, (CCT8) was uniquely induced in hair cells.  Together our data indicate that hair cells exhibit a limited but unique heat shock response, and supporting cells exhibit a broader and more robust transcriptional response to protective heat stress. SOURCE: Robert,James,Morell (morellr@nidcd.nih.gov) - Genomics and Computational Biology Core National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE139593: Cell Specific Transcriptional Responses to Heat Shock in the Mouse Utricle Epithelium