Application of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing in Pancreatic Cancer and the Endocrine Pancreas
The pancreas is a complex organ composed of an endocrine (pancreatic islets) and an exocrine portion. This mixed cell population has resulted in an implacable barrier to exploring the detailed mechanism and function of each cell type in previous investiga
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Qiankun Luo, Qiang Fu, Xu Zhang, Hongwei Zhang, and Tao Qin
Abstract
The pancreas is a complex organ composed of an endocrine (pancreatic islets) and an exocrine portion. This mixed cell population has resulted in an implacable barrier to exploring the detailed mechanism and function of each cell type in previous investigative approaches. In recent years, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have provided in-depth analysis of cell heterogeneity in the pancreas and in pancreatic cancer. It is especially effective in cell-type-specific molecule identification and detection of interactions between cancer cells and the stromal microenvironment. To date, numerous reports have described the application of scRNA-seq in studies of pancreatic islets and pancreatic cancer. The aim of this paper is to review recent advances of pancreatic transcriptomics and pancreatic cancer using scRNA-seq strategies. Keywords
Single cell · RNA sequencing · Transcriptomics · Pancreatic islet · Heterogeneity · Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma · Circulating tumor cells · Cancer stem cells · Stromal cell Q. Luo · Q. Fu · X. Zhang · H. Zhang · T. Qin (*) Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Introduction
The pancreas is a crucial organ for human digestion and metabolism. The emergence of diabetes is associated with the destruction of pancreatic β cells (Type 1) and insulin resistance accompanied by β cell dysfunction (Type 2). The incidence of diabetes is increasing gradually and threatening global health [1]. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism of diabetes remains to be elucidated. Current studies show a relationship between transcriptome variations of the pancreatic islets and diabetes [2, 3]. However, the islets have an abundance of distinct cell types, which increase difficulties in detecting cell-type-specific transcriptomes. Thus, the heterogeneity and specific markers for α, β, ε, δ, and PP cells have not been comprehensively elaborated upon until now. The exocrine gland of the pancreas is composed of acinar and ductal cells. Previous studies believed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) was derived from ductal cells because the tumor histology resembled that of ductal morphology [4]. However, subsequent studies showed acinar-to-ductal metaplasia could be induced in Kras mutated mice, and precancerous lesions occurred [5]. New research has demonstrated that both acinar and ductal cells can generate PDAC with distinct biological features [6]. In addition, it has been confirmed that pancreatic stellate cells divide into cancerassociated fibroblasts (CAFs), which contributes to the stromal microenvironment of PDAC
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020 B. Yu et al. (eds.), Single-cell Sequencing and Methylation, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 1255, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4494-1_12
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[7]. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs)
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