Single cell RNA sequencing of peanut-responsive T cells

Peanut-responsive T cells from peanut allergic subjects were identified and selected based on CD154 expression after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with crude peanut extract for 18h. As controls, polyclonally activated CD4+ T cells from peanut allergic subjects were selected. Additional controls included CD4+CD25+CD127- Tregs from peanut allergic or healthy controls. Single cells were obtained using the C1 system from Fluidigm, and a barcoded library constructed. Sequencing (Illumina) was performed using 100 nt paired end reads. Data on a total of 431 cells was available. The goal of the study was to understand the heterogeneity of the peanut-specific T cell response. 212 peanut-responsive T cells from 5 peanut allergic subjects, 122 polyclonally activated T cells from 3 peanut allergic subjects, and 97 Tregs from 4 peanut allergic and 4 healthy controls were obtained.