Single-cell RNA-seq of primary human gastric interstitial cells of Cajal

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders affect millions of people worldwide, yet remain poorly treated due to insufficient knowledge of the molecular networks controlling GI motility. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are critical GI pacemaker cells, and abnormalities in ICC are implicated in GI motility disorders. Nevertheless, human ICC are poorly characterised, largely due to difficulties in accessing sufficient numbers for research. Two cell surface proteins have been identified as ICC markers: the receptor tyrosine kinase, KIT; and the calcium-activated chloride channel, Anoctamin-1 (ANO1). Anti-KIT antibodies have been used to purify mouse ICC via flow cytometry. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of KIT-sorted, primary human gastric ICC to better understand networks controlling human ICC biology.