Molecular diversity of diencephalic astrocytes reveals adult astrogenesis regulated by Smad4
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Astrocytes regulate brain-wide functions and also show region-specific differences, but little is known about how general and region-specific functions are aligned at the single cell level. To explore this, we isolated adult mouse diencephalic astrocytes by ACSA2-mediated magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS). Single cell RNA-seq revealed 7 gene expression clusters of astrocytes, with 4 forming a super cluster. Within the super cluster, cells differed by gene expression related to ion homeostasis or metabolism, with the former sharing gene expression with other regions and the latter being restricted to specific regions. All clusters showed expression of proliferation related genes, and proliferation of diencephalic astrocytes was confirmed by immunostaining. Clonal analysis demonstrated low level of astrogenesis in the adult diencephalon, but not in cortex Grey Matter. This led to the identification of Smad4 as a key regulator of diencephalic astrocyte in vivo proliferation and in vitro neurosphere formation. Thus, astrocytes show diverse gene expression states related to distinct functions with some subsets being more wide-spread while others are more regionally restricted. However, all share low level proliferation revealing the novel concept of adult astrogenesis in the diencephalon.
SUBMITTER: Dr. Stefanie Ohlig
PROVIDER: S-SCDT-EMBOJ-2020-107532 | biostudies-other |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
ACCESS DATA