Single-cell RNA-seq with spike-in cells enables accurate quantification of cell-specific drug effects in pancreatic islets [Drop-seq]

Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) is emerging as a powerful tool to dissect cell-specific effects of drug treatment in complex tissues. Here we treated human islet ex vivo with drugs to study the changes in their cellular identity. Artemether treatment upregulated insulin and other beta cell marker genes in a subset of alpha cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing using Dropseq of pancreatic islets from 1 human donor. Islets were treated ex-vivo with drugs that alter islet cell identity for 72 hrs.