Isolation of Nuclei from Human Intermuscular Adipose Tissue and Downstream Single-Nuclei RNA Sequencing

Summary

The biology of intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is largely unexplored due to the limited accessibility of human tissue. Here, we present a detailed protocol for nuclei isolation and library preparation of frozen human IMAT for single nuclei RNA sequencing to identify the cellular composition of this unique adipose depot.

Abstract

Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is a relatively understudied adipose depot located between muscle fibers. IMAT content increases with age and BMI and is associated with metabolic and muscle degenerative diseases; however, an understanding of the biological properties of IMAT and its interplay with the surrounding muscle fibers is severely lacking. In recent years, single-cell and nuclei RNA sequencing have provided us with cell type-specific atlases of several human tissues. However, the cellular composition of human IMAT remains largely unexplored due to the inherent challenges of its accessibility from biopsy collection in humans. In addition to the limited amount of tissue collected, the processing of human IMAT is complicated due to its proximity to skeletal muscle tissue and fascia. The lipid-laden nature of the adipocytes makes it incompatible with single-cell isolation. Hence, single nuclei RNA sequencing is optimal for obtaining high-dimensional transcriptomics at single-cell resolution and provides the potential to uncover the biology of this depot, including the exact cellular composition of IMAT. Here, we present a detailed protocol for nuclei isolation and library preparation of frozen human IMAT for single nuclei RNA sequencing. This protocol allows for the profiling of thousands of nuclei using a droplet-based approach, thus providing the capacity to detect rare and low-abundant cell types.

Introduction

Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is an ectopic adipose depot residing between and around muscle fibers¹. As described in detail in a recent review by Goodpaster et al., IMAT can be detected using high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Figure 1A,B) and is found around and within muscle fibers throughout the entire body¹. The quantity of IMAT varies greatly between individuals and is influenced by BMI, age, sex, race, and sedentariness^2,3,4. ....

Protocol

The sample used for this protocol was part of the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging (SOMMA)^15, which was approved by the Western IRB-Copernicus Group (WCG) Institutional Review Board and was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants provided written informed consent for their participation in the study.

NOTE : This protocol is adapted from a previous protocol using 100 mg of human abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue on a na.......

Discussion

There are several inherent challenges to working with IMAT. In addition to its limited accessibility, the yield of sample material is often very scarce, and "contamination" of skeletal muscle is almost impossible to avoid. To obtain the best quality sample, one should penetrate the muscle fascia when inserting the biopsy needle (to make sure not to collect subcutaneous adipose tissue) and remove as much muscle tissue as possible by dissecting the sample under a microscope immediately after collection, followed by.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
0.2 µm corning syringe filters	Millipore Sigma	CLS431229
1.7 mL DNA LoBind tubes	Eppendorf	22431021	low-bind tubes
10% Tween 20	Bio-Rad	1662404
100x protease inhibitor	Thermo Fisher Scientific	78437
10X Magnetic Separator	10X Genomics	230003
10X Vortex Adapter	10X Genomics	330002
15 mL canonical tubes	Sarstedt	6,25,54,502
2100 Bioanalyzer	Agilent	G2939BA
50 mL conical tubes	Sarstedt	6,25,47,254
CellRanger	Genomics	N/A
Chromium iX accesory kit	10X Genomics	PN1000323
Chromium iX Controller	10X Genomics	PN1000326
Chromium Next GEM Chip G Single Cell Kit	10X Genomics	PN1000127
Chromium Next GEM Single Cell 3'  Kit v 3.1	10X Genomics	PN1000269
Chromium Next GEM Single Cell 3' Gel Bead Kit v3.1	10X Genomics	PN1000129
Chromium Next GEM Single Cell GEM Kit v3.1	10X Genomics	PN1000130
Countess 3 Automated Cell Counter	Thermo Fisher Scientific	AMQAX2000	Automated cell counter
Countess cell counting chamber slides	Thermo Fisher Scientific	C10228
DoubletFinder	R	N/A
DPBS (no calcium, no magnesium)	Thermo Fisher Scientific	14190144
DTT	Thermo Fisher Scientific	R0861
Dual Index Kit TT Set A, 96 rxns	10X Genomics	PN1000215
Dynabeads MyOne SILANE	10X Genomics	PN2000048
Falcon 100 µm Cell strainer	Corning Life Science	352360
Falcon 40 µm Cell strainer	Corning Life Science	352340
Glycerin (glycerol), 50% (v/v) Aqueous Solution	Ricca Chemical Company	3290-32
KCL	Thermo Fisher Scientific	AM9640G
Library Construction Kit v3.1	10X Genomics	PN1000196
MACS SmartStrainers (30µm)	Miltenyi Biotec	130-098-458
Mastercycler Nexus Gradient Thermal cycler	Eppendorf	6331000017
MgCl2	Ambion	AM9530G
Mortar and pestel	Health care logistics	14075
NucBlue Live Ready Probes Reagent	Thermo Fisher Scientific	R37605
Nuclease Free Water (not DEPC treated)	Thermo Fisher Scientific	AM9930
Probumin Bovine Serum Albumin Fatty Acid Free, Powder	Sigma-Aldrich	820024
Qiagen Buffer EB	Qiagen	19086
Ribolock RNAse inhibitor	Thermo Fisher Scientific	EO0382
Seurat	R	N/A
Sucrose	Sigma-Aldrich	S0389
SUPERasin 20 U/µL	Thermo Fisher Scientific	AM2695
ThermoMixer C	Eppendorf	5382000015
Tissue homogenizer	Glass-Col	099C K54
Tris buffer pH 8.0	Thermo Fisher Scientific	AM9855G
Triton X-100	Thermo Fisher Scientific	AC327372500
UltraPure 0.5M EDTA pH 8.0	Gibco	15575020