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A multicenter study benchmarking single-cell RNA sequencing technologies using reference samples.

ABSTRACT: Comparing diverse single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets generated by different technologies and in different laboratories remains a major challenge. Here we address the need for guidance in choosing algorithms leading to accurate biological interpretations of varied data types acquired with different platforms. Using two well-characterized cellular reference samples (breast cancer cells and B cells), captured either separately or in mixtures, we compared different scRNA-seq platforms and several preprocessing, normalization and batch-effect correction methods at multiple centers. Although preprocessing and normalization contributed to variability in gene detection and cell classification, batch-effect correction was by far the most important factor in correctly classifying the cells. Moreover, scRNA-seq dataset characteristics (for example, sample and cellular heterogeneity and platform used) were critical in determining the optimal bioinformatic method. However, reproducibility across centers and platforms was high when appropriate bioinformatic methods were applied. Our findings offer practical guidance for optimizing platform and software selection when designing an scRNA-seq study.

SUBMITTER: Chen W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11245320 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A multicenter study benchmarking single-cell RNA sequencing technologies using reference samples.

Chen Wanqiu W Zhao Yongmei Y Chen Xin X Yang Zhaowei Z Xu Xiaojiang X Bi Yingtao Y Chen Vicky V Li Jing J Choi Hannah H Ernest Ben B Tran Bao B Mehta Monika M Kumar Parimal P Farmer Andrew A Mir Alain A Mehra Urvashi Ann UA Li Jian-Liang JL Moos Malcolm M Xiao Wenming W Wang Charles C

Nature biotechnology 20201221 9

Comparing diverse single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets generated by different technologies and in different laboratories remains a major challenge. Here we address the need for guidance in choosing algorithms leading to accurate biological interpretations of varied data types acquired with different platforms. Using two well-characterized cellular reference samples (breast cancer cells and B cells), captured either separately or in mixtures, we compared different scRNA-seq platforms a ...[more]

PMID: 33349700

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Project description:Technological advances in transcriptome sequencing of single cells provided an unprecedented view on tissue composition and cellular heterogeneity. While several studies have compared different single cell RNA-seq methods with respect to data quality and their ability to distinguish cellular subpopulations, none of these comparative studies investigated the heterogeneity of the cellular transcriptional response upon a chemical perturbation. In this study, we evaluated the transcriptional response of NGP neuroblastoma cells upon nutlin-3 treatment using the C1, ddSeq and Chromium single cell systems. These systems and library preparation methods are representative for the wide variety of platforms, ranging from microfluids chips to droplet-based systems and from full transcript sequencing to 3’ end sequencing. In parallel, we used bulk RNA-seq for molecular characterization of the transcriptional response. Two complementary metrics to evaluate performance were applied: the first is the number and identification of differentially expressed genes as robustly assessed by two statistical models, and the second is enrichment analysis of biological signals, which is independent of sample size or number of cells evaluated. Where relevant, we downsampled sequencing library size, selected cell subpopulations based on specific RNA abundance features, or created pseudobulk samples to make the data more comparable. While the C1 detects the highest number of genes per cell and better resembles bulk RNA-seq, the Chromium identifies most differentially expressed genes, albeit still substantially fewer than bulk RNA-seq. Gene set enrichment analyses reveals that detection of the most abundant genes in single cell RNA-seq experiments is sufficient for molecular phenotyping. Finally, single cell RNA-seq reveals a heterogeneous response of NGP cells upon nutlin-3 treatment, pinpointing putative late-responders or resistant cells, hidden in bulk RNA-seq experiments.

Dataset Information

A multicenter study benchmarking single-cell RNA sequencing technologies using reference samples.

Publications

A multicenter study benchmarking single-cell RNA sequencing technologies using reference samples.

Similar Datasets

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