This protocol describes a single-cell RNA sequencing workflow to analyze immune-cell infiltration and cell-type-specific transcriptional differences between ganglionic and aganglionic colonic segments in Hirschsprung disease.
Method Article
This protocol describes a single-cell RNA sequencing workflow to analyze immune-cell infiltration and cell-type-specific transcriptional differences between ganglionic and aganglionic colonic segments in Hirschsprung disease.
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital intestinal motility disorder characterized by the absence of enteric neurons in the distal bowel. Compared with bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) enables gene expression profiling at the single-cell level, resolving cellular heterogeneity that is masked in population-averaged analyses. A standardized scRNA-seq workflow was established to characterize the transcriptional landscape of ganglionic and aganglionic segments from patients with HSCR. Colon tissues were collected, and hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to identify ganglionic and aganglionic regions. Tissues were enzymatically and mechanically dissociated into single-cell suspensions, followed by filtration, viability assessment, and construction of single-cell transcriptome libraries. Libraries that passed quality control were sequenced, and raw data were processed for cell quantification and quality filtering to remove low-quality cells and technical artifacts. After normalization and dimensionality reduction, cells were clustered and annotated based on established marker genes. Downstream analyses compared cell-type composition between ganglionic and aganglionic tissues and identified differentially expressed genes within key immune cell subsets. The results reveal substantial differences in the immune microenvironment between ganglionic and aganglionic segments in HSCR.
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is one of the most common congenital intestinal motility disorders, with an incidence of approximately 1 in 5,000 live births worldwide1. The disease arises from the failure of enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) to migrate into the distal intestine during embryonic weeks 5–12, resulting in the absence of enteric ganglia in the affected segments2. The aganglionic segment consequently exhibits persistent spastic contraction and impaired peristalsis, leading to proximal intestinal dilation. Clinically, this manifests as functional obstruction, causing constipation, abdominal distension, and vomiting, and may be life-threatening in severe cases. Surgical resection of the aganglionic segment remains the primary treatment for HSCR; however, a substantial proportion of patients experience postoperative complications, including constipation, enterocolitis, and fecal soiling, which significantly compromise quality of life3. Additionally, short bowel syndrome (SBS) may occur following extensive intestinal resection, resulting in impaired nutrient absorption and increased clinical management challenges. Therefore, elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of HSCR and identification of novel therapeutic targets remain critical clinical needs.
In recent years, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has been widely applied to investigate disease-associated molecular mechanisms. Unlike conventional bulk RNA sequencing, scRNA-seq enables gene expression analysis at single-cell resolution, allowing the identification of cellular heterogeneity and rare subpopulations that are masked in bulk analyses4. Consequently, scRNA-seq has emerged as a powerful tool for dissecting cellular heterogeneity and intercellular communication, advancing research in biology and medicine5. This approach has revealed novel pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets in complex diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease6, rheumatoid arthritis7, lung cancer8, and type 2 diabetes9.
In this study, scRNA-seq was applied to characterize the immune-cell transcriptional landscape and infiltration patterns in ganglionic and aganglionic colonic tissues from patients with HSCR. The workflow comprised three major steps: preparation and quality assessment of single-cell suspensions, construction of 3′ single-cell RNA-seq libraries, and downstream bioinformatic analysis. Tissue samples were preserved in a dedicated single-cell preservation solution immediately after resection and were enzymatically dissociated into single-cell suspensions within 48 h. Cell viability exceeded 80%, and the final cell concentration was adjusted to 700–1,500 cells/µL prior to library preparation. Immune cell infiltration between ganglionic and aganglionic segments was compared, and immune cell subpopulations exhibiting pronounced transcriptional differences were identified. These analyses delineate immune-cell alterations associated with colonic pathology in HSCR.
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This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (Approval No.: KYLL-2024-030). The study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent (oral and written) was obtained from all participants and their guardians. Table 1 presents the information on HSCR patients.
Collect colonic tissues, including ganglionic and aganglionic segments, from HSCR patients diagnosed and undergoing surgery in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University. Include ganglionic and aganglionic segments from two male HSCR patients. Detailed clinical information is provided in Table 1. All the reagents, chemicals, equipment, and software are listed in the Table of Materials.
1. Hematoxylin and eosin staining
2. Single-cell RNA sequencing
3. Waste disposal
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Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining (Figure 1) revealed distinct histological differences between ganglionic and aganglionic segments. Compared with ganglionic segments, aganglionic segments exhibited increased mucosal exfoliation, a marked reduction in goblet cells and submucosal neurons, and blurred boundaries between the mucosal and muscular layers. In a subset of sections, tissue preservation was suboptimal, with partial epithelial detachment and disruption of tissue architecture, limiti...
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Single-cell RNA sequencing was applied to profile transcriptional features of surgically resected colonic tissues (ganglionic and aganglionic segments) from patients with Hirschsprung diseases4,5. Particular attention was given to the tissue dissociation strategy, as dissociation parameters influence cell recovery, cell-type representation, and RNA integrity. Enzymatic digestion conditions were optimized to balance sufficient tissue dissociation with preservation...
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The authors have nothing to disclose.
This work was supported by Guizhou Science and Technology Project (Guizhou Science and Technology Cooperation - Foundation - ZK - [2024] General 344) (to X.F. Yang) and Zunyi Science and Technology Project Contract (Science and Technology Cooperation) (Zunyi Science and Technology Cooperation HZ (2023) No.) (to Y. Qu).
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| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beeswax | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 8012-89-3 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/8012-89-3 |
| Beeswax | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 8012-89-3 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/8012-89-3 |
| Bovine serum albumin | Thermofisher | 30066575 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/30066575?SID=srch-srp-30066575 |
| Bovine serum albumin | Thermofisher | 30066575 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/30066575?SID=srch-srp-30066575 |
| CellTypist | N/A | NA | http://celltypist.org/tutorials/onlineguide |
| CellTypist | N/A | NA | http://celltypist.org/tutorials/onlineguide |
| Cluster profiler package | Bioconductor | v4.8.1 | https://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/clusterProfiler.html |
| Cluster profiler package | Bioconductor | v4.8.1 | https://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/clusterProfiler.html |
| Collagenase II | Thermofisher | 17101015 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/17101015?SID=srch-srp-17101015 |
| Collagenase II | Thermofisher | 17101015 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/17101015?SID=srch-srp-17101015 |
| Cover glass | CITOTEST | 80340-0130 | https://cn.citotest.com/pd40971476.html |
| Cover glass | CITOTEST | 80340-0130 | https://cn.citotest.com/pd40971476.html |
| Disposable microtome blade | Feather | S-35 | https://www.feather.co.jp/en/m_Products/pathology01.html |
| Disposable microtome blade | Feather | S-35 | https://www.feather.co.jp/en/m_Products/pathology01.html |
| DNase I | Thermofisher | 18047019 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/18047019?SID=srch-srp-18047019 |
| DNase I | Thermofisher | 18047019 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/18047019?SID=srch-srp-18047019 |
| Drying oven | BORUK | DHG-9140A | http://www.shboruike.com/sys-pd/84.html |
| Drying oven | BORUK | DHG-9140A | http://www.shboruike.com/sys-pd/84.html |
| Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium | Thermofisher | 12491015 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/12491015 |
| Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium | Thermofisher | 12491015 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/12491015 |
| Ethyl alcohol | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 10009218 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/10009218 |
| Ethyl alcohol | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 10009218 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/10009218 |
| Fetal bovine serum | Thermofisher | A5669801 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/A5669801 |
| Fetal bovine serum | Thermofisher | A5669801 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/A5669801 |
| Hematoxylin and eosin staining kit | Beyotime | C0105S | https://m.beyotime.com/mobilegoods.do?method=code&code=C0105S |
| Hematoxylin and eosin staining kit | Beyotime | C0105S | https://m.beyotime.com/mobilegoods.do?method=code&code=C0105S |
| Hydrochloric acid | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 10011028 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/10011028 |
| Hydrochloric acid | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 10011028 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/10011028 |
| Microscope slide | CITOTEST | 80302-3111 | https://cn.citotest.com/pd530614548.html |
| Microscope slide | CITOTEST | 80302-3111 | https://cn.citotest.com/pd530614548.html |
| Mounting medium | Beyotime | C0173-100ml | https://m.beyotime.com/mobilegoods.do?method=code&code=C0173-100ml |
| Mounting medium | Beyotime | C0173-100ml | https://m.beyotime.com/mobilegoods.do?method=code&code=C0173-100ml |
| Optical microscope | Nikon | ECLIPSE SI | https://www.microscope.healthcare.nikon.com/ja_JP/products/upright-microscopes/eclipse-si |
| Optical microscope | Nikon | ECLIPSE SI | https://www.microscope.healthcare.nikon.com/ja_JP/products/upright-microscopes/eclipse-si |
| Paraffin wax | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 8002-74-2 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/8002-74-2 |
| Paraffin wax | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 8002-74-2 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/8002-74-2 |
| Paraformaldehyde Fix Solution | Beyotime | P0099-3L | https://m.beyotime.com/mobilegoods.do?method=code&code=P0099-3L |
| Paraformaldehyde Fix Solution | Beyotime | P0099-3L | https://m.beyotime.com/mobilegoods.do?method=code&code=P0099-3L |
| Penicillin–streptomycin | Thermofisher | 15140122 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/15140122?SID=srch-srp-15140122 |
| Penicillin–streptomycin | Thermofisher | 15140122 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/15140122?SID=srch-srp-15140122 |
| Phosphate-buffered saline | Thermofisher | 10010023 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/10010023 |
| Phosphate-buffered saline | Thermofisher | 10010023 | https://www.thermofisher.cn/order/catalog/product/10010023 |
| Qualitative filter paper | Solarbio | YA0166 | https://www.solarbio.com |
| Qualitative filter paper | Solarbio | YA0166 | https://www.solarbio.com |
| R software package | R Foundation for Statistical Computing | v4.2.2 | https://www.r-project.org/ |
| R software package | R Foundation for Statistical Computing | v4.2.2 | https://www.r-project.org/ |
| Rotary Microtome | Leica | Leica RM2125 RTS | https://www.leicabiosystems.com/en-jp/histology-equipment/microtomes/histocore-biocut/ |
| Rotary Microtome | Leica | Leica RM2125 RTS | https://www.leicabiosystems.com/en-jp/histology-equipment/microtomes/histocore-biocut/ |
| Scanpy | Community-developed | v1.9.3 | https://scanpy.readthedocs.io/en/latest/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |
| Scanpy | Community-developed | v1.9.3 | https://scanpy.readthedocs.io/en/latest/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |
| Seurat | CRAN | v4.3.0 | https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/Seurat/index.html |
| Seurat | CRAN | v4.3.0 | https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/Seurat/index.html |
| Tissue dehydrator | Wuhan Junjie Electronics Co., LTD | JT-12H | http://www.whjjbl.com/front/page/126495/product_id/46166.html |
| Tissue dehydrator | Wuhan Junjie Electronics Co., LTD | JT-12H | http://www.whjjbl.com/front/page/126495/product_id/46166.html |
| Tissue embedding machine | Wuhan Junjie Electronics Co., LTD | JB-L8 | http://www.whjjbl.com/front/page/126495/product_id/46064.html |
| Tissue embedding machine | Wuhan Junjie Electronics Co., LTD | JB-L8 | http://www.whjjbl.com/front/page/126495/product_id/46064.html |
| Trypan blue | Solarbio | C0040 | https://www.solarbio.com/haveRegion?id=48&all=0&key=%20Trypan%20Blue |
| Trypan blue | Solarbio | C0040 | https://www.solarbio.com/haveRegion?id=48&all=0&key=%20Trypan%20Blue |
| Xylene | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 10023418 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/10023418 |
| Xylene | Sinopharm Chemical Reagent CO., Ltd. | 10023418 | https://www.reagent.com.cn/ProductSearch/10023418 |
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