Single-cell RNA-sequence of basophils under homeostatic conditions

Basophils are the least common granulocytes which represent less than 1% of peripheral blood leukocytes. Recent development of analytical tools for basophils has enabled us to understand their critical roles in allergic reactions and protection from parasitic infections. Nevertheless, the differentiation trajectory of basophils remain unclear. To explore differentiation trajectory of basophils, we conducted highly sensitive single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of bone marrow-derived basophils (BMBAs) and basophils under homeostatic conditions. As a result, we identified previously-unappreciated pre-basophils which are located down-stream of bi-potential basophil and mast cell common precursors and upstream of mature basophils along the ontogeny of basophlis. Overall design: Basophils isolated from the bone marrow and spleen of the Mcpt8-GFP Tg mice and bone marrow cells cultured with IL-3 for 3 or 7 days were subjected to scRNA-seq.