Researchers from around the world have joined forces to create the first comprehensive cell-type taxonomy of the macaque cortex, uncovering the intricate relationship between cell-type composition and brain region functionality. The monumental study has significantly advanced our understanding of the neural circuitry basis of the primate brain.
The research was carried out by a consortium of nearly 100 scientists from leading institutions, including the Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, BGI Research, Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Tencent AI Lab, as well as the Karolinska Institute and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. Their groundbreaking findings have been published in the scientific journal, Cell.
Primates, including macaques, which serve as the closest animal models to humans, possess a complex network of neurons that form intricate neural circuits fundamental to advanced cognitive and social abilities. In the brain of a macaque, over six billion cells are dispersed across hundreds of distinct brain regions, which can be differentiated into hundreds of cell types based on their molecular, morphological, and physiological characteristics. Identifying the spatial distribution and composition of these cell subtypes is key to understanding the organizational principles of primate brains.
In this study, the research team harnessed the power of a newly developed spatial transcriptome sequencing technology called Stereo-seq and a technique for preparing thin slices of the macaque brain at a centimeter scale. By amalgamating these with large-scale single-cell transcriptome analysis, they compiled a comprehensive three-dimensional single-cell atlas of the entire macaque cortex.
Key findings showed that various cell types, including glutamatergic neurons, GABAergic neurons, and non-neuronal cells, exhibited unique distribution patterns throughout the cerebral cortex. Significantly, the research team found a correlation between the cell-type composition and the hierarchical organization of brain regions in the visual and somatosensory systems.
Comparisons with publicly available single-cell data from human and mouse brains revealed primate-specific glutamatergic neuron cells. These cells are primarily located in layer 4 and express genes linked to human diseases, including FOXP2, DCC, and EPHA3.
The study has provided an invaluable dataset for the entire macaque cerebral cortex, now publicly available online, which will undoubtedly serve as a crucial resource for future research in the field. Looking ahead, the team plans to delve deeper into understanding the mechanisms of brain diseases, brain cell and structural evolution, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain function.
The research was carried out by a consortium of nearly 100 scientists from leading institutions, including the Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, BGI Research, Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Tencent AI Lab, as well as the Karolinska Institute and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. Their groundbreaking findings have been published in the scientific journal, Cell.
Primates, including macaques, which serve as the closest animal models to humans, possess a complex network of neurons that form intricate neural circuits fundamental to advanced cognitive and social abilities. In the brain of a macaque, over six billion cells are dispersed across hundreds of distinct brain regions, which can be differentiated into hundreds of cell types based on their molecular, morphological, and physiological characteristics. Identifying the spatial distribution and composition of these cell subtypes is key to understanding the organizational principles of primate brains.
In this study, the research team harnessed the power of a newly developed spatial transcriptome sequencing technology called Stereo-seq and a technique for preparing thin slices of the macaque brain at a centimeter scale. By amalgamating these with large-scale single-cell transcriptome analysis, they compiled a comprehensive three-dimensional single-cell atlas of the entire macaque cortex.
Key findings showed that various cell types, including glutamatergic neurons, GABAergic neurons, and non-neuronal cells, exhibited unique distribution patterns throughout the cerebral cortex. Significantly, the research team found a correlation between the cell-type composition and the hierarchical organization of brain regions in the visual and somatosensory systems.
Comparisons with publicly available single-cell data from human and mouse brains revealed primate-specific glutamatergic neuron cells. These cells are primarily located in layer 4 and express genes linked to human diseases, including FOXP2, DCC, and EPHA3.
The study has provided an invaluable dataset for the entire macaque cerebral cortex, now publicly available online, which will undoubtedly serve as a crucial resource for future research in the field. Looking ahead, the team plans to delve deeper into understanding the mechanisms of brain diseases, brain cell and structural evolution, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain function.