Somatosensory neuron types identified by high-coverage single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional heterogeneity

Cell Res. 2016 Jan;26(1):83-102. doi: 10.1038/cr.2015.149. Epub 2015 Dec 22.

Abstract

Sensory neurons are distinguished by distinct signaling networks and receptive characteristics. Thus, sensory neuron types can be defined by linking transcriptome-based neuron typing with the sensory phenotypes. Here we classify somatosensory neurons of the mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) by high-coverage single-cell RNA-sequencing (10 950 ± 1 218 genes per neuron) and neuron size-based hierarchical clustering. Moreover, single DRG neurons responding to cutaneous stimuli are recorded using an in vivo whole-cell patch clamp technique and classified by neuron-type genetic markers. Small diameter DRG neurons are classified into one type of low-threshold mechanoreceptor and five types of mechanoheat nociceptors (MHNs). Each of the MHN types is further categorized into two subtypes. Large DRG neurons are categorized into four types, including neurexophilin 1-expressing MHNs and mechanical nociceptors (MNs) expressing BAI1-associated protein 2-like 1 (Baiap2l1). Mechanoreceptors expressing trafficking protein particle complex 3-like and Baiap2l1-marked MNs are subdivided into two subtypes each. These results provide a new system for cataloging somatosensory neurons and their transcriptome databases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Ganglia, Spinal / cytology*
  • Ganglia, Spinal / metabolism
  • Gene Regulatory Networks*
  • Male
  • Mechanoreceptors / cytology
  • Mechanoreceptors / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Multigene Family
  • Nociceptors / cytology
  • Nociceptors / metabolism
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / cytology*
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Transcriptome*