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Single-Cell, Multi-Omics & AIAllen Brain Map

scRNA-seq

Single-Cell & Single-Nucleus RNA Sequencing (scRNA-seq / snRNA-seq)

単一細胞・単一核RNAシークエンシング(scRNA-seq / snRNA-seq)

High-throughput transcriptomic profiling at individual cell or nucleus resolution, enabling identification of disease-associated microglia (DAM), astrocytes, and vulnerable neuronal subtypes.
Target CNS Conditions:Alzheimer's & DementiaParkinson's & MovementALS & Motor NeuronMultiple SclerosisBroad CNS / NeuroimagingFrontotemporal DementiaHuntington's Disease

1. Biological & Technical Mechanism

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq—which isolates intact nuclei from frozen post-mortem human brain tissue where whole-cell dissociation is infeasible) quantify mRNA transcripts across tens of thousands to millions of individual brain cells. Bybarcoding transcripts per cell/nucleus using droplet microfluidics or combinatorial indexing, researchers resolve fine-grained cell-type taxonomies across excitatory/inhibitory neurons, oligodendrocytes, OPCs, astrocytes, microglia, and vascular cells.

日本語での専門解説 (Japanese Reference):

単一細胞RNAシークエンシング(scRNA-seq)および凍結死後脳組織から核のみを単離して解析する単一核RNAシークエンシング(snRNA-seq)は、数万〜数百万個の脳細胞一つひとつのmRNA発現量を網羅的に定量する技術です。従来のバルク組織RNA-seqでは平均化されて埋もれていた細胞種ごとの遺伝子発現変動を分離でき、興奮性・抑制性ニューロンの細分類やグリア細胞の活性化状態を精密に記述できます。

2. Open Science & Clinical Trial Significance

Landmark atlases from the Allen Brain Map (BICCN/BICAN) and Agora (AMP-AD) use snRNA-seq to uncover Disease-Associated Microglia (DAM), vulnerable L2/3 and entorhinal glutamatergic neurons in Alzheimer's, and SOX6+ AGTR1+ dopaminergic neurons selectively lost in Parkinson's disease.

日本語での臨床・データ活用文脈 (Japanese Context):

Allen Brain Map(BICCN)やAgora(AMP-AD)の公開アトラスにおいて、アルツハイマー病脳における疾患関連ミクログリア(DAM)の活性化経路、内嗅皮質・海馬における選択的脆弱性ニューロン、パーキンソン病黒質で選択的に脱落するSOX6陽性ドパミン神経サブタイプの同定など、革新的な発見をもたらしています。

Related Neuroscience Terms & Standards

MERFISH — Multiplexed Error-Robust Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (Spatial Transcriptomics)

Subcellular-resolution spatial transcriptomics imaging hundreds to thousands of RNA species in intact brain tissue sections while preserving cytoarchitecture.

AnnData — Annotated Data Matrix (.h5ad / scverse Standard)

Standard Python/HDF5 container for single-cell and spatial omics, storing expression matrices (X) alongside cell annotations (obs), gene metadata (var), and embeddings (obsm).

Patch-seq — Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology Combined with Single-Cell RNA-seq

Multimodal single-cell technique simultaneously capturing intrinsic electrophysiological properties, 3D axonal/dendritic morphology, and full-length transcriptome from the same neuron.

APOE — Apolipoprotein E (APOE ε2 / ε3 / ε4)

Major lipid carrier in the central nervous system; the APOE ε4 allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Open Datasets & Research Publications Related to scRNA-seq

Open DatasetAllen Brain Map / BICCN

BICCN Whole Human Brain Single-Cell Transcriptomic Cell Type Atlas

Cell atlas spanning >3 million single nuclei across 100+ human brain regions, mapping distinct vulnerable neuronal and glial sublineages.

9/23/2026View Deep Brief →
PreprintbioRxiv (Neuroscience)

Spatial Transcriptomics of Chronic Active Multiple Sclerosis Lesions Reveals Iron-Laden MIMS Microglia Driving OPC Differentiation Arrest

Subcellular MERFISH and single-nucleus RNA sequencing across human post-mortem white matter lesions map complement C1q signaling and interferon-responsive oligodendrocyte states at paramagnetic lesion rims.

10/20/2026View Deep Brief →
Open DatasetDANDI Archive

Dandiset 000108: Single-Cell Patch-seq Electrophysiology and Morphometry of Human Neocortical Neurons

Over 1,200 human surgical neocortical pyramidal neurons and interneurons characterized with patch-clamp electrophysiology, morphological reconstruction, and scRNA-seq.

8/21/2026View Deep Brief →
PreprintmedRxiv (Neurology)

Peripheral Immune Alterations and T Cell Clonal Dynamics Across the Parkinson's Disease Spectrum

The role of peripheral immunity in Parkinsons disease (PD) remains incompletely understood. Here, we performed paired single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and T-cell receptor (TCR) profiling of 630k peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 168 donors spanning idiopathic and genetic PD, prod...

9/29/2026View Deep Brief →
Open DatasetAllen Brain Map / BICCN

Allen Brain Atlas: Aging Dementia TBI - non-ISH data

Neuropathologic, molecular and transcriptomic study of aging, dementia, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) of brains from control and TBI cases in a unique aged population-based cohort from the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study. Non-ISH data.... Freely accessible open data product maintained by the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

10/22/2026View Deep Brief →
Open DatasetAllen Brain Map / BICCN

Allen Brain Atlas: Non-Human Primate Macrodissection Microarray

Genome-wide microarray data profiling gene expression in gross brain structures using rhesus macaque-specific DNA microarrays.... Freely accessible open data product maintained by the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

10/22/2026View Deep Brief →

Disclaimer: This encyclopedia entry is intended for academic neuroscience research and data science reference only, and does not constitute medical advice.

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