Elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of potential pluripotency in primordial germ cells by spatial single-cell RNA-sequencing

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15107
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 44020:Developmental biology-related
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Ikeda Hiroki 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (70819911)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 卵母細胞 / 単一細胞トランスクリプトーム / 卵巣 / 顆粒層細胞 / 組織切片 / 固定組織

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we developed a method for single-cell transcriptome analysis from fixed tissue sections. Using this method, we analyzed mouse ovaries and obtained new insights into molecular mechanisms related to oocyte maturation. These findings shed light on a part of the quality control mechanism of oocytes in an ovary, and further detailed analysis may lead to applications in assisted reproductive technology. In addition, the method we developed can be applied not only to ovaries but also to other organs and preserved pathological samples. It is expected to be a basic technology for obtaining new insights into the pathogenesis of diseases, especially those accompanied by tissue lesions.

Free Research Field

発生学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、基盤技術である組織切片から解析標的とする一細胞レベルで高精度にトランスクリプトームを解析する手法を界面活性剤の組み合わせの検討により実現した。また、本手法を用いたマウス卵巣の解析により、卵母細胞及び、その周辺に存在する顆粒膜細胞の転写プロファイルを高精度に明らかにすることができ、通常の卵母細胞の成熟過程から逸脱した卵母細胞を同定し、さらにこれら卵母細胞に隣接する細胞では卵母細胞との相互作用が減弱していることを見出した。