Dissecting Cell Fate Decision by Single Cell Genomics

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K06921
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: System genome science
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Akira 京都大学, iPS細胞研究所, 特定拠点助教 (60506765)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: シングルセル / 遺伝子発現 / iPS細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes show promise for clinical application. To reach this potential, however, improved maturity and reduced cellular heterogeneity of in vitro differentiated cardiomyocytes is needed. Here, we addressed transcriptional heterogeneity in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) by single-cell RNA sequencing. We successfully defined differentiation states at the single-cell level and clarified heterogeneities in the gene expression patterns of iPSC-CMs, especially those cultured over long periods. We developed a novel maturation index to perform in silico sorting and score the maturation level of the cells. Additionally, we identified a new cell surface marker of mature iPSC-CMs by which we could enrich well-matured iPSC-CMs from a heterogeneous population of iPSC-CMs. Our single-cell RNA sequencing approach could help clarify variation of in vitro differentiated cells.

Free Research Field

ゲノム科学