Single-Cell Sequencing Applications in the Inner Ear

Mingxuan Wu; Mingyu Xia; Wenyan Li; Huawei Li

doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.637779

Single-Cell Sequencing Applications in the Inner Ear

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Feb 12:9:637779. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.637779. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Mingxuan Wu¹, Mingyu Xia¹, Wenyan Li¹, Huawei Li^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
² Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
³ NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁴ The Institutes of Brain Science and The Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Genomics studies face specific challenges in the inner ear due to the multiple types and limited amounts of inner ear cells that are arranged in a very delicate structure. However, advances in single-cell sequencing (SCS) technology have made it possible to analyze gene expression variations across different cell types as well as within specific cell groups that were previously considered to be homogeneous. In this review, we summarize recent advances in inner ear research brought about by the use of SCS that have delineated tissue heterogeneity, identified unknown cell subtypes, discovered novel cell markers, and revealed dynamic signaling pathways during development. SCS opens up new avenues for inner ear research, and the potential of the technology is only beginning to be explored.

Keywords: hair cell; inner ear; single cell sequencing; spiral ganglion neuron; supporting cell.

Publication types

Review