Unravelling the dynamic process of NPI maturation at the single cell transcriptome level
Elisabeth Kemter1,2,4, Martin Kraetzl1,2, Anika Böttcher3,4, Minas Schwager3, Heiko Lickert3,4, Eckhard Wolf1,2,4.
1Center for Innovative Medical Models, LMU München, Munich, Germany; 2Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, LMU München, Munich, Germany; 3Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany; 4German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
Introduction: The in vitro culture period is essential for the maturation of neonatal porcine islets (NPIs) to achieve the properties required for successful transplantation. The composition of the media has a significant impact on the properties of the NPI product. Knowledge of the molecular signature of NPIs during the in vitro maturation period is essential for targeted improvement.
Methods: scRNA-seq analysis of NPIs at different culture days was used to study the molecular profiles of NPIs at single cell resolution. In addition, beta-cell enriched samples of porcine pancreas from late embryonic, pre-weaning and post-weaning animals were included in the analysis.
Results: A porcine beta-cell transcriptome atlas of the early postnatal period was established. The single cell transcript profiles of NPIs during culture revealed that the in vitro maturation process is a highly dynamic process. Not only a shift in the cell type composition during the culture period was observed but also changes in the transcriptome signature within the cell type cluster.
Conclusion: The in vitro maturation of NPIs revealed a high degree of plasticity, which was reflected in their transcriptome profile.
[1] neonatal pig islets
[2] scRNA-seq