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  • Year in Review
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NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN NEPHROLOGY IN 2018

Single-cell genomics and gene editing: implications for nephrology

Discoveries in 2018 using single-cell sequencing and gene-editing technologies have revealed their transformative potential for the investigation of kidney physiology and disease. Their promise is matched by the speed of their evolution.

Key advances

  • Massively parallel single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) enables molecular characterization of cell types and states with unprecedented precision and is having a profound impact across biology2,3,4.

  • Integration of scRNA-seq and genome-wide association study (GWAS) data sets allows for sensitive identification of causal cell types and genes in human kidney disease3,4.

  • Advances in CRISPR–Cas9 gene editing have facilitated the development of new approaches to activate the expression of protective gene programmes in kidney disease models, providing an encouraging proof of principle for this therapeutic approach8,10.

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Fig. 1: Integrating single-cell expression data with GWAS variants can help identify relevant cell types in disease.

References

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  2. Young, M. D. et al. Single-cell transcriptomes from human kidneys reveal the cellular identity of renal tumors. Science 361, 594–599 (2018).

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  8. Xu, X. et al. High-fidelity CRISPR/Cas9- based gene-specific hydroxymethylation rescues gene expression and attenuates renal fibrosis. Nat. Commun. 9, 3509 (2018).

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  9. Ikeda, Y. et al. Efficient gene transfer to kidney mesenchymal cells using a synthetic adeno-associated viral vector. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 29, 2287–2297 (2018).

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Correspondence to Benjamin D. Humphreys.

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Wilson, P.C., Humphreys, B.D. Single-cell genomics and gene editing: implications for nephrology. Nat Rev Nephrol 15, 63–64 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-018-0094-3

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