Defining cell populations with single-cell gene expression profiling: correlations and identification of astrocyte subpopulations.

ABSTRACT: Single-cell gene expression levels show substantial variations among cells in seemingly homogenous populations. Astrocytes perform many control and regulatory functions in the central nervous system. In contrast to neurons, we have limited knowledge about functional diversity of astrocytes and its molecular basis. To study astrocyte heterogeneity and stem/progenitor cell properties of astrocytes, we used single-cell gene expression profiling in primary mouse astrocytes and dissociated mouse neurosphere cells. The transcript number variability for astrocytes showed lognormal features and revealed that cells in primary cultures to a large extent co-express markers of astrocytes and neural stem/progenitor cells. We show how subpopulations of cells can be identified at single-cell level using

SUBMITTER: Stahlberg A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3045576 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature