Heterogeneity of hypothalamic Pro-opiomelanocortin-expressing neurons revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing

Arcuate proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are critical nodes in the control of body weight. Often characterised simply as direct targets for leptin, recent data suggest a more complex architecture. Using single cell RNA sequencing, we have generated an atlas of gene expression in murine POMC neurons, and compare the gene expression profiles of individual POMC-expressing neurons to assess the degree of heterogenity present in this cell population. Overall design: We isolated one hundred and sixty-three POMC-expressing neurons from the arcuate nucleus of POMC-EGFP transgenic mice using fluorescence activated cell sorting. RNA was extracted from individual neurons and subjected to RNA sequencing, after which the gene expression profiles of the individual Pomc-expressing neurons were compared.

弓状核前阿片黑素细胞皮质激素（proopiomelanocortin, POMC）神经元是体重调控的关键节点。过往研究多将其简单视为瘦素（leptin）的直接作用靶点，但最新研究显示其调控机制具备更为复杂的架构。本研究采用单细胞RNA测序（single cell RNA sequencing）技术，构建了小鼠POMC神经元的基因表达图谱，并通过比对单个表达POMC的神经元的基因表达谱，以评估该细胞群体的异质性程度。实验设计：本研究借助荧光激活细胞分选（fluorescence activated cell sorting）技术，从POMC-增强型绿色荧光蛋白（POMC-EGFP）转基因小鼠的弓状核中分离得到163个表达POMC的神经元。随后从单个神经元中提取RNA并开展RNA测序，对各表达Pomc的神经元的基因表达谱进行对比分析。