Single-cell RNA-seq reveals new types of human blood dendritic cells, monocytes, and progenitors

What's in a drop of blood? Blood contains many types of cells, including many immune system components. Immune cells used to be characterized by marker-based assays, but now classification relies on the genes that cells express. Villani et al. used deep sequencing at the single-cell level and unbiased clustering to define six dendritic cell and four monocyte populations. This refined analysis has identified, among others, a previously unknown dendritic cell population that potently activates T cells. Further cell culture revealed possible differentiation progenitors within the different cell populations. Science , this issue p. eaah4573

• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• W
  Wellcome

  Awards: WT088555, WT107931/Z/15/Z
• KF
  Klarman Family Foundation
• MR
  Medical Research Council

  Award: MR/N005872/1