Traumatic brain injury modifies adult hippocampal neural stem cell fate to promote neurogenesis at the cost of astrogliogenesis.

We aimed to assess how TBI affects hippocampal NSCs and their subsequent commitment to the neuronal or astroglial lineages. Using a controlled cortical impact model of TBI, single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we observed a cell population-specific increase in NSC-derived neuronal cells and a decrease in NSC-derived astrocytic cells. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of 4 different cells at two time points. To understand the cellular changes induced by TBI in DG NSC and their progeny we performed scRNAseq. A controlled cortical impact model was used to induce a traumatic brain injury of mild to moderate severity. Fifteen days post-surgery, DGs were micro-dissected, dissociated and single Nesin-GFP+ cells isolated using FACS (in combination with a live/dead dye to eliminate dead cells). Cells were then pooled and subjected to scRNAseq using the 10X 3’ whole transcriptome analysis workflow.