We combined the tissue preservation and single-cell resolution of laser capture with an improved preamplification procedure enabling RNA sequencing of 10 microdissected cells.  This in situ 10-cell RNA sequencing (10cRNA-seq) can exploit fluorescent reporters of cell type in genetically engineered mice and is compatible with freshly cryoembedded clinical biopsies from patients.   By using small pools of microdissected cells, 10cRNA-seq thus results in improved per-cell reliability and sensitivity beyond existing approaches for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).  Accordingly, in multiple tissue and tumor settings, we observe 1.52-fold increases in genes detected and overall alignment rates compared to scRNA-seq.  Combined with existing approaches to deconvolve small pools of cells, 10cRNA-seq offers a reliable, unbiased, and sensitive way to measure cell-state heterogeneity in tissues and tumors. SOURCE: Kevin,A.,Janes (kjanes@virginia.edu) -  University of Virginia

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE120261 (mouse): In situ 10-cell RNA sequencing in tissue and tumor biopsy samples