New subgroups of ILC immune cells discovered through single-cell RNA sequencing

New subgroups of ILC immune cells discovered through single-cell RNA sequencing
By using single-cell RNA sequencing, Drs Jenny Mjosberg and Rickard Sandberg, Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, have discovered new subgroups of ILC immune cells. Credit: Stefan Zimmerman

A relatively newly discovered group of immune cells known as ILCs have been examined in detail in a new study published in the journal Nature Immunology. By analysing the gene expression in individual tonsil cells, scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have found three previously unknown subgroups of ILCs, and revealed more about how these cells function in the human body.

Innate lymphoid (ILCs) are a group of that have only relatively recently been discovered in humans. Most of current knowledge about ILCs stems from animal studies of e.g. inflammation or infection in the gastrointestinal tract. There is therefore an urgent need to learn more about these cells in humans.

Previous studies have shown that ILCs are important for maintaining the barrier function of the mucosa, which serves as a first line of defence against microorganisms in the lungs, intestines and elsewhere. However, while there is growing evidence to suggest that ILCs are involved in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and intestinal cancer, basic research still needs to be done to ascertain exactly what part they play.

Two research groups, led by Rickard Sandberg and Jenny Mjösberg, collaborated on a study of ILCs from human tonsils. To date, three main groups of human ILCs are characterized. In this present study, the teams used a novel approach that enabled them to sort individual tonsil cells and measure their expression across thousands of genes. This way, the researchers managed to categorise hundreds of cells, one by one, to define the types of ILCs found in the human tonsils.

"We used cluster analyses to demonstrate that ILCs congregate into ILC1, ILC2, ILC3 and NK cells, based on their unique profiles," says Professor Sandberg at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and the Stockholm branch of Ludwig Cancer Research. "Our analyses also discovered the expression of numerous genes of previously unknown function in ILCs, highlighting that these cells are likely doing more than what we previously knew."

By analysing the (or transcriptome) of individual cells, the researchers found that one of the formerly known main groups could be subdivided.

"We've identified three new subgroups of ILC3s that evince different and that differ in how they react to signalling molecules and in their ability to secrete proteins," says Dr Mjösberg at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medicine in Huddinge, South Stockholm. "All in all, our study has taught us a lot about this relatively uncharacterised family of cells and our data will serve as an important resource for other researchers."

More information: 'The heterogeneity of human CD127+ innate lymphoid cells revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing', Åsa K. Björklund, Marianne Forkel, Simone Picelli, Viktoria Konya, Jakob Theorell, Danielle Friberg, Rickard Sandberg, Jenny Mjösberg, Nature Immunology, online Feb. 15, 2016, DOI: 10.1038/ni.3368

Journal information: Nature Immunology
Citation: New subgroups of ILC immune cells discovered through single-cell RNA sequencing (2016, February 15) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-02-subgroups-ilc-immune-cells-single-cell.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Immune cells make appendix 'silent hero' of digestive health

4 shares

Feedback to editors