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Mechanism of cell-mediated cytotoxicity at the single-cell level. VII. Trigger of the lethal hit event is distinct for NK/K and LDCC effector cells as measured in the two-target conjugate assay.

Normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) express several in vitro cytotoxic functions, among which are natural killer (NK), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and lectin-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (LDCC). The relationship of these various cytotoxic functions and the identity of cells involved has been a subject of controversy. Recently it was reported that NK and K for ADCC can be mediated by the same cell, suggesting that they constitute in large part a single subpopulation with multiple cytotoxic functions. The ability of this NK/K effector cell to mediate LDCC was examined here using the two target conjugate assay. The effector cells were Ficoll-Hypaque PBL or LGL-enriched fractions. The targets used were K562 or MOLT for NK, RAJI coated with antibody for ADCC, and RAJI coated with PHA or Con A or modified by NaIO4 for LDCC. In the two-target conjugate assay, one of the targets is fluorescein labeled for identification. The results show that (a) LDCC copurifies with NK/K and is enriched in the LGL fraction, as measured in both the 51Cr-release assay and the single-cell assay for cytotoxicity; (b) single effector cells simultaneously bind to NK or ADCC and LDCC targets, revealing that single cells bear binding receptors for all targets; and (c) single lymphocytes were not able to kill both bound NK/K and LDCC targets. However, significant two-target killing was obtained when both targets were NK targets, ADCC targets, LDCC targets, or one NK and one ADCC target. These results demonstrate that the NK and LDCC effector cells are distinct subpopulations copurified in the LGL fraction. In addition, the results show that lectin is unable to trigger globally an NK effector cell to mediate cytotoxicity against a bound NK insensitive target. Thus, although both NK and LDCC effector cells are present in the LGL fraction and can bind to both types of targets, the trigger of the lethal hit event is the function of specialized effector cells.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗

Improved native UV laser induced fluorescence detection for single cell analysis in poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic devices.

Single cell analytics is a key method in the framework of proteom research allowing analyses, which are not subjected to ensemble-averaging, cell-cycle or heterogeneous cell-population effects. Our previous studies on single cell analysis in poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic devices with native label-free laser induced fluorescence detection [W. Hellmich, C. Pelargus, K. Leffhalm, A. Ros, D. Anselmetti, Electrophoresis 26 (2005) 3689] were extended in order to improve separation efficiency and detection sensitivity. Here, we particularly focus on the influence of poly(oxyethylene) based coatings on the separation performance. In addition, the influence on background fluorescence is studied by the variation of the incident laser power as well as the adaptation of the confocal volume to the microfluidic channel dimensions. Last but not least, the use of carbon black particles further enhanced the detection limit to 25 nM, thereby reaching the relevant concentration ranges necessary for the label-free detection of low abundant proteins in single cells. On the basis of these results, we demonstrate the first electropherogram from an individual Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cell with native label-free UV-LIF detection in a microfluidic chip.

Animals↗

Assessment of aniline derivatives-induced DNA damage in the liver cells of B6C3F1 mice using the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis ("comet") assay.

The alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) or "comet" assay under alkaline conditions was used to measure DNA damage in the liver cells of B6C3F1 male mice exposed to 2,4-dimethylaniline and 2, 4,6-trimethylaniline. Cells embedded in agarose were lysed, subjected briefly to an electric field, stained with a fluorescent DNA-binding stain, and viewed using a fluorescence microscope. The effect of 2,4-dimethylaniline and 2,4,6-trimethylaniline was studied after a single intraperitoneal injections at doses equal to 100, 200 mg/kg and 150, 300 mg/kg b.w., respectively. It was found that 2, 4-dimethylaniline and 2,4,6-trimethylaniline were able to damage DNA in the liver cells of the mice. As has been published elsewhere, the DNA damaging effect of the studied compounds were also observed in bone marrow cells of the mice. In conclusion, taking into account the results mentioned above and the results obtained by other researchers who reported mutagenic activity of 2,4-dimethylaniline and 2,4,6-trimethylaniline in Salmonella typhimurium assay and in a DNA repair test using Chinese hamster hepatocytes, it can be stated that both aromatic amines are genotoxic. Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen. 19:323-327, 1999.

Aniline Compounds↗

Assessment of aniline derivatives-induced DNA damage in the liver cells of B6C3F1 mice using the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis ('comet') assay.

The alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) or 'comet' assay under alkaline conditions was used to measure DNA damage in the liver cells of B6C3F1 male mice exposed to 2,4-dimethylaniline and 2,4,6-trimethylaniline. Cells embedded in agarose were lysed, subjected briefly to an electric field, stained with a fluorescent DNA-binding stain, and viewed using a fluorescence microscope. The effect of 2,4-dimethylaniline and 2,4,6-trimethylaniline was studied after single intraperitoneal injections at doses equal to 100, 200 mg/kg and 150, 300 mg/kg body wt., respectively. It was found that 2,4-dimethylaniline and 2,4,6-trimethylaniline were able to damage DNA in the liver cells of the mice. As has been published elsewhere, the DNA damaging effect of the studied compounds was also observed in bone marrow cells of the mice. In conclusion, taking into account the results mentioned above and the results obtained by the other researchers who reported mutagenic activity of 2,4-dimethylaniline and 2,4,6-trimethylaniline in a Salmonella typhimurium assay and DNA repair test using Chinese hamster hepatocytes, it can be stated that both aromatic amines are genotoxic.

Aniline Compounds↗

Estimation of DNA single-strand breaks by single cells gel electrophoresis in tumor cells.

To estimate the frequency of single-strand breaks on a single cell level the so-called comet-assay (single cell gel electrophoresis) is a well-established technique. We present a modified protocol suitable for testing primary tumors, a kind of tissue very uneasy to be analysed in former single cell gel electrophoresis assays. Tumor cells of 12 studied cases showed a typical dose-rate effect on in vitro irradiation with different X-ray doses, as observed in peripheral blood leukocytes. Interestingly, the repair capability of primary tumor cells was lower than that of peripheral blood leukocytes of the same patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗

scnanoseq: an nf-core pipeline for Oxford Nanopore single-cell RNA-sequencing.

MOTIVATION: Recent advancements in long-read single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have facilitated the quantification of full-length transcripts and isoforms at the single-cell level. Historically, long-read data would need to be complemented with short-read single-cell data in order to overcome the higher sequencing errors to correctly identify cellular barcodes and unique molecular identifiers. Improvements in Oxford Nanopore sequencing, and development of novel computational methods have removed this requirement. Though these methods now exist, the limited availability of modular and portable workflows remains a challenge. RESULTS: Here, we present, nf-core/scnanoseq, a secondary analysis pipeline for long-read single-cell and single-nuclei RNA that delivers gene and transcript-level quantification. The scnanoseq pipeline is implemented using Nextflow and is built upon the nf-core framework, enabling portability across computational environments, scalability and reproducibility of results across pipeline runs. The nf-core/scnanoseq workflow follows best practices for analyzing single-cell and single-nuclei data, performing barcode detection and correction, genome and transcriptome read alignment, unique molecular identifier deduplication, gene and transcript quantification, and extensive quality control reporting. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The source code, and detailed documentation are freely available at https://github.com/nf-core/scnanoseq and https://nf-co.re/scnanoseq under the MIT License. Documentation for the version of nf-core/scnanoseq used for this paper, including default parameters and descriptions of output files are available at https://nf-co.re/scnanoseq/1.1.0.

Single-Cell Analysis↗

Preparation of cDNA from single cells and subcellular regions.

Phenotypic characterization of cells in conjunction with single-cell mRNA analysis, which yields information regarding expression of multiple genes in individual neurons, facilitates a detailed and comprehensive view of neuronal cell biology. More specifically, the aRNA amplification method has provided an approach to analyze mRNA levels in single cells that have been phenotypically characterized on the basis of electrophysiology, morphology, and/or protein expression. In this way, relative mRNA abundances can be directly assayed from a well-defined population of neurons. The concept of expression profiling led to the development of robotics methods for arraying thousands of cDNAs on microarrays. These cDNA arrays can be screened with labeled aRNA or cDNA to generate a molecular fingerprint of a specific cell type, disease state, or therapeutic efficacy. A broad view of how gene expression is altered in single neurons affected by a particular disease process may provide clues to pathogenetic disease mechanisms or avenues for therapeutic interventions. The use of mRNA profiles to produce diagnostics and therapeutics is called transcript-aided drug design (TADD). When coupled with single-cell resolution, TADD promises to be an important tool in diagnosis of disease states, as well as provide a blueprint on which to develop therapeutic strategies. For example, mRNA abundances in an individual diseased cell may increase, decrease, or remain constant, and thus it is possible that a pharmaceutical alone or in combination with other drugs may be specifically designed to restore mRNA abundances to a normal state. Alternatively, if functional protein levels parallel the mRNA level changes, then drugs targeting the function of the proteins translated from these altered mRNAs may prove to be therapeutic. One promise of such an approach is that information about mRNA abundances that are altered in a diseased cell may provide new therapeutic indications for existing drugs. For example, if the abundance of mRNA for the beta-adrenergic receptor is altered as shown by the microarrays for a particular disease, already available adrenergic receptor agonists or antagonists that had not previously been used in this particular disease paradigm may prove to be therapeutically efficacious. The expression profile of a given cell is a measure of the potential for protein expression. Proteins are generally the functional entities within cells and differences in protein function often result in disease. The ability to monitor the coordinate changes in gene expression, in single phenotypically identified cells, that correlate with disease will provide unique insight into the expressed genetic variability of cells and will likely furnish unforeseen insight into the underlying cellular mechanisms that produce disease etiology.

Animals↗

Voltage-gated potassium channels in retinal ganglion cells of trout: a combined biophysical, pharmacological, and single-cell RT-PCR approach.

Retinal ganglion cells of young mature trout were acutely isolated by tissue printing and analyzed with the whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique in combination with single-cell RT-PCR. All cells either exhibited spontaneous spiking activity or could be induced to fire trains of action potentials by current injection. Depolarizing voltage steps elicited a TTX-sensitive sodium inward current and a complex outward current that could be subdivided into a calcium-dependent component that was sensitive to 100 nM iberiotoxin as well as three major types of voltage-sensitive currents: 1) a high-threshold (-20 mV) noninactivating current that was highly sensitive to submicromolar TEA and quinine, resembling recombinant mammalian Kv3.1 channels; 2) a low-threshold DTX-sensitive current, matching mammalian Kv1; and 3) a fast-inactivating transient current that was highly sensitive to TEA (3 mM) but resistant to alpha-DTX (1 microM) and quinine (0.1 mM). By multiplex single-cell RT-PCR, coexpression of multiple transcripts encoding Shaker-related channel genes of trout (termed Tsha1-Tsha4) as well as two Shaw-related channels (termed Traw1 and Traw2) could be demonstrated in individual cells.

Action Potentials↗

High-throughput single-cell proteomics and transcriptomics from same cells with a nanoliter-scale, spin-transfer approach.

Single-cell multiomic platforms provide a comprehensive snapshot of cellular states and cell types by offering critical insights into the spatiotemporal regulation of biomolecular networks at a systems level, thereby defining the basis of multicellularity. Here, we introduce nanoSPINS, an advanced platform that enables high-throughput profiling and integrative analysis of the transcriptome and proteome from the same single cells using RNA sequencing and isobaric labeling LC-MS-based proteomics, respectively. NanoSPINS can efficiently transfer mRNA-containing droplets across two microarrays via a centrifugation-based approach, while proteins are retained on the initial platform. Benchmarking of nanoSPINS on two cell lines demonstrates its ability to generate global proteomic and transcriptomic profiles that align well with previously established methodologies/platforms. The incorporation of isobaric TMTpro labeling into this single-cell multiomics platform significantly enhances the throughput of single-cell proteomic analyses. Through the high-throughput quantification of the proteome and transcriptome, nanoSPINS not only facilitates the identification of molecular features at both mRNA and protein level but also provides larger sample sizes for improved statistical power in clustering and differential abundance. Given the broad applicability of single-cell multiomics in biological research and clinical settings, we believe nanoSPINS represents a powerful platform for the characterization of heterogeneous cell populations.

Single-Cell Analysis↗

Nanosecond fluorescence microscopy. Emission kinetics of fura-2 in single cells.

A microscope based time-correlated single photon counting instrument has been constructed to measure fluorescence intensity and emission anisotropy decays from fluorophores in single cells on a nanosecond time scale. The sample is excited and the emission collected using epi-illumination optics with frequency-doubled pulses from the cavity-dumped output of a synchronously pumped dye laser serving as an excitation source. Collection of decays from a single cell is possible due to the presence of an iris in the emission path that can be reduced to less than the diameter of a single cell. Using the instrument the decay of 60 nM 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene was measured, demonstrating that adequate data for lifetime analysis can be recorded from fewer 10(3) molecules of the fluorophore in an illuminated volume of 23 fl. In addition, the intensity and anisotropy decays of fura-2 in single adherent cells and in suspensions of fura-2 loaded cells in suspension, although the relative amplitudes and decay constants vary somewhat from cell to cell. The results indicate that a significant but variable fraction of fura-2 is bound to relatively immobile macromolecular components in these cells.

Animals↗

Phenotype, genotype and clonality of Reed-Sternberg cells in nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's disease: results of a single-cell study.

The genotype and clonality of Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells in Hodgkin's disease (HD) has remained a controversial issue, largely due to the scarcity of RS cells in tissues and the limitations of the techniques used to resolve this issue. Southern hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays using DNA extracted from tissues can only document clonal gene rearrangements, but do not indicate which cellular population is responsible for such rearrangements. To overcome the limitations of these previous techniques for studying the genotype and clonality of RS cells, we analysed single RS cells with a single-cell PCR assay to detect immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH) rearrangements and X-chromosome inactivation. Six cases of nodular sclerosis (NS) HD were studied. The RS cells displayed a B-cell phenotype in three cases and a null-cell phenotype in the other three cases. IgH rearrangements were detected in the RS cells of the three cases with a B-cell phenotype, but not in the other cases. In these three cases the IgH rearrangements in the RS cells were polyclonal, although a subpopulation of clonal RS cells was documented in one case. The finding that the RS cells with IgH rearrangements were not monoclonal was supported in one case by studying the pattern of X-chromosome inactivation in single RS cells by a single-cell human androgen receptor gene (HUMARA) PCR assay. Our results indicate that NSHD begins as a polyclonal process in which a clonal RS cell population may arise; and that the RS cells in a subset of NSHD show evidence of B-lineage differentiation.

Base Sequence↗

Rapid effects of aldosterone on free intracellular calcium in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells: subcellular localization of calcium elevations by single cell imaging.

Rapid in vitro effects of aldosterone on the intracellular concentrations of sodium, potassium and calcium, cell volume and the sodium-proton-antiport have been described in human mononuclear leukocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). These nongenomic effects are signalled through membrane receptors with a high affinity for aldosterone, but not for cortisol, and through the phosphoinositide pathway. In the present study, we demonstrate that free intracellular calcium is increased rapidly by aldosterone in VSMC and endothelial cells (EC) as determined by single cell imaging of Fura2-fluorescence. In VSMC, calcium elevation is localized to the perinuclear region whereas in EC, a predominant increase of subplasmalemmal calcium is seen. In VSMC, effects are half maximal at 0.1 nM aldosterone; cortisol is inactive up to 0.1 microM. These data show that intracellular signalling for aldosterone also involves calcium, but the subcellular localization of this signal varies between cell types.

Aldosterone↗

Highly efficient endosomal labeling of progenitor and stem cells with large magnetic particles allows magnetic resonance imaging of single cells.

Tracking transplanted stem cells using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could offer biologic insight into homing and engraftment. Ultrasmall dextran-coated iron oxide particles have previously been developed for uptake into cells to allow MRI tracking. We describe a new application of much larger, micron-scale, iron oxide magnetic particles with enhanced MR susceptibility, which enables detection of single cells at resolutions that can be achieved in vivo. In addition, these larger particles possess a fluorophore for histologic confirmation of cell distribution. We demonstrate highly efficient, nontoxic, endosomal uptake of these particles into hematopoietic CD34+ cells and mesenchymal stem cells documented by confocal and electron microscopy. Labeled cells retain biologic activity with preservation of colony-forming ability and differentiation capacity. MRI studies could detect labeled CD34+ cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at single cell resolution. This appears to be a promising tool for serial noninvasive monitoring of in vivo cell homing and localization using MRI.

Animals↗

Comparative single-cell and flow DNA analysis of bone sarcoma.

Five chondrosarcomas and seven osteosarcomas were analyzed by single-cell DNA cytophotometry, in both imprint preparations and tissue sections, and by means of flow DNA cytophotometry. A comparative analysis of the DNA distribution curves of each tumor, as determined by these three methods, showed a good correlation with respect to the modal DNA values. In addition, there was a strong correlation between the proportion of tumor cells with an increased DNA value (hyperploid cells) in imprint preparations and in tissue sections of each tumor as determined by single-cell DNA cytophotometry. Flow cytophotometry appears to be the method of choice for the determination of the aneuploid modal DNA value of a tumor cell population, while single-cell cytophotometry of identified cells seems more appropriate for the determination of the proportion of hyperploid cells in a tumor cell population. In this respect, single-cell and flow DNA cytophotometry may be considered complementary. For the demonstration of the existence of aneuploidy in a tumor cell population, however, the three investigated methods seem to be equivalent. Previous studies using single-cell cytophotometry have shown that DNA determinations in chondrosarcoma as well as in other tumors provide significant prognostic information. For routine clinical work, however, as an adjunct to the conventional histopathologic malignancy grading, single-cell cytophotometry is a rather time consuming procedure, while flow cytophotometry offers a rapid and convenient means of determining the nuclear DNA content. The present study clearly showed that flow DNA cytophotometry may be applied to sarcoma of bone.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Interactions of muscarinic drugs with their receptors in single cells of guinea-pig taenia caecum.

Single cells were prepared from the guinea-pig taenia caecum and used for the study of drug-receptor interactions. The cells showed a graded response to carbachol, the dose response curve being shifted in a parallel fashion by atropine, indicating a competitive antagonism. The pA2-value of atropine was in agreement with that estimated using the intact tissue. [3H]QNB (quinuclidinyl benzilate) combined with the single cells, the Scatchard plot yielding a straight line. The dissociation constant of QNB was similar to values estimated in other membrane preparations. The apparent dissociation constants of cholinergic drugs estimated from inhibition of the specific binding of [3H]QNB (0.20 nM) to the single cells by the cholinergic drugs were also in agreement with the values in other membrane preparations. The results indicate that the single smooth muscle cells are useful for the study of drug-receptor interactions.

Animals↗

Interpretable data integration for single-cell and spatial multi-omics.

Integrating single-cell or spatial transcriptomic and epigenomic data enables scrutinizing the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling cell fate. Current integration methods usually align multi-omics data into a shared latent space but fail to reveal the underlying connections between genes and regulatory elements. The correlation- or regression-based regulatory inference methods cannot dissect different transcriptional regulation codes for cells under different spatial and temporal states. To address both problems, we develop a feature-guided optimal transport (FGOT) method, which simultaneously uncovers cellular heterogeneity and their associated transcriptional regulatory links. FGOT also provides post hoc interpretability for existing integration methods. FGOT is applicable for paired/unpaired single-cell multi-omics data and paired spatial multi-omics data. Benchmarking and validating via histone modification data or three-dimensional (3D) genomics data show good robustness and accuracy in integration and inference of regulatory links. The method allows systematic screening of cell-state and spatial-location-specific regulatory elements in diseases at the single-cell level. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.

Single-Cell Analysis↗

Challenges of single-cell diagnostics: analysis of gene expression.

Analysis of single-cell gene expression promises a more precise understanding of human disease pathogenesis and important diagnostic applications. Here, we review the rationale for the study of gene expression at the single-cell level, practical methods to isolate homogeneous or single-cell samples, and current approaches to the analysis of single-cell gene expression. Finally, we highlight applications of laser microdissection-based gene expression analysis to the study of human disease and clinical diagnosis.

Animals↗

A comparative electrophysiological study of enzymatically isolated single cells and strips of frog ventricle.

Single heart cells were obtained from frog ventricle using an enzymatic dispersion technique. The whole cell variation of the patch clamp technique was used to monitor action potential and cell membrane currents. The clamp circuit could be switched electronically between voltage and current clamp modes. The effects of seal leakage currents were to depolarize the cell, reduce the amplitude of the plateau, and lengthen the action potential duration. A scheme to compensate for these currents is presented. The membrane currents obtained from the single cell under voltage clamp conditions were compared to those obtained from multicellular preparations using the single sucrose gap technique. Hyperpolarizing clamps showed time-dependent, depletion-related K+ currents for the multicellular preparation, whereas for the single cell no such currents were observed. The absence of extracellular accumulation or depletion of K+ in the single cell was confirmed by the lack of post-clamp afterpotentials or changes in resting potential following a train of frequently elicited action potentials. The TTX-insensitive inward current was relatively faster in the single cell, compared to that measured in the multicellular preparation. A delayed time-dependent outward current was observed in the positive potential range for both single and multicellular preparations. The isochronal current-voltage (I-V) relations obtained at 400 ms were N-shaped for both preparations, but was more negative for the single cell at potentials positive to -20 mV. The results indicate a strong similarity between membrane currents obtained in single and multicellular preparations. The differences in the currents in the two preparations are due in large part to accumulation or depletion of K+ in the extracellular space.

Action Potentials↗