Affiliations 

  • 1 Faculty of Medicine, Sumy State University, Zamonstanksya 7, Sumy, 40007, Ukraine
  • 2 School of Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
  • 3 Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, India
  • 4 Faculty of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, UK
  • 5 Faculty of Medicine, Sumy State University, Zamonstanksya 7, Sumy, 40007, Ukraine. Favouradebusoye@gmail.com
  • 6 Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
  • 7 Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
  • 8 Faculty of Medicine, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  • 9 Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 10 Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
Eur J Med Res, 2023 Nov 16;28(1):529.
PMID: 37974227 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01504-w

Abstract

Single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a transformative technology in neurological and neurosurgical research, revolutionising our comprehension of complex neurological disorders. In brain tumours, scRNA-seq has provided valuable insights into cancer heterogeneity, the tumour microenvironment, treatment resistance, and invasion patterns. It has also elucidated the brain tri-lineage cancer hierarchy and addressed limitations of current models. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have been molecularly subtyped, dysregulated pathways have been identified, and potential therapeutic targets have been revealed using scRNA-seq. In epilepsy, scRNA-seq has explored the cellular and molecular heterogeneity underlying the condition, uncovering unique glial subpopulations and dysregulation of the immune system. ScRNA-seq has characterised distinct cellular constituents and responses to spinal cord injury in spinal cord diseases, as well as provided molecular signatures of various cell types and identified interactions involved in vascular remodelling. Furthermore, scRNA-seq has shed light on the molecular complexities of cerebrovascular diseases, such as stroke, providing insights into specific genes, cell-specific expression patterns, and potential therapeutic interventions. This review highlights the potential of scRNA-seq in guiding precision medicine approaches, identifying clinical biomarkers, and facilitating therapeutic discovery. However, challenges related to data analysis, standardisation, sample acquisition, scalability, and cost-effectiveness need to be addressed. Despite these challenges, scRNA-seq has the potential to transform clinical practice in neurological and neurosurgical research by providing personalised insights and improving patient outcomes.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.