Single cell RNA-seq mapping of nasal and tracheobronchial airways in human healthy volunteers.

We have explored cellular heterogeneity of human airways in 10 healthy volunteers by single-cell RNA profiling. 77,969 cells were collected by bronchoscopy at 35 distinct locations, from the nose to the 12th division of the airway tree, either by forceps (46,791 cells), or brush biopsies (31,178 cells). Use of cold-active proteases allowed dissociation of a high percentage of epithelial cells (89.1%, 15 distinct surface cell types and 2 glandular cell types), but also immune (6.2%, 7 cell types) and stromal (4.7%, 4 cell types) cells. Raw data has been submitted to EGA web portal under accession number EGAS00001004082 (https://ega-archive.org/studies/EGAS00001004082). Profiling of 35 brushings or biopsies of human airways samples in 10 healthy volunteers by single-cell RNA profiling