Three-dimensional single-cell transcriptome imaging of thick tissues

Multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) allows genome-scale imaging of RNAs in individual cells in intact tissues. To date, MERFISH has been applied to image thin-tissue samples of ~10 µm thickness. Here, we present a thick-tissue three-dimensional (3D) MERFISH imaging...

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Main Authors: Rongxin Fang, Aaron Halpern, Mohammed Mostafizur Rahman, Zhengkai Huang, Zhiyun Lei, Sebastian J Hell, Catherine Dulac, Xiaowei Zhuang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 2024-12-01
Series:eLife
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Online Access:https://elifesciences.org/articles/90029
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author Rongxin Fang
Aaron Halpern
Mohammed Mostafizur Rahman
Zhengkai Huang
Zhiyun Lei
Sebastian J Hell
Catherine Dulac
Xiaowei Zhuang
author_facet Rongxin Fang
Aaron Halpern
Mohammed Mostafizur Rahman
Zhengkai Huang
Zhiyun Lei
Sebastian J Hell
Catherine Dulac
Xiaowei Zhuang
author_sort Rongxin Fang
collection DOAJ
description Multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) allows genome-scale imaging of RNAs in individual cells in intact tissues. To date, MERFISH has been applied to image thin-tissue samples of ~10 µm thickness. Here, we present a thick-tissue three-dimensional (3D) MERFISH imaging method, which uses confocal microscopy for optical sectioning, deep learning for increasing imaging speed and quality, as well as sample preparation and imaging protocol optimized for thick samples. We demonstrated 3D MERFISH on mouse brain tissue sections of up to 200 µm thickness with high detection efficiency and accuracy. We anticipate that 3D thick-tissue MERFISH imaging will broaden the scope of questions that can be addressed by spatial genomics.
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spelling doaj-art-ff4fc3e1dfbb4817851400bc2b11c40c2025-08-20T02:50:48ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2024-12-011210.7554/eLife.90029Three-dimensional single-cell transcriptome imaging of thick tissuesRongxin Fang0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0107-7504Aaron Halpern1Mohammed Mostafizur Rahman2Zhengkai Huang3Zhiyun Lei4Sebastian J Hell5https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6291-9639Catherine Dulac6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5024-5418Xiaowei Zhuang7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6034-7853Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Physics, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, United StatesHoward Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Physics, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, United StatesHoward Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, United StatesHoward Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Physics, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, United StatesHoward Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Physics, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, United StatesHoward Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Physics, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, United StatesHoward Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, United StatesHoward Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Physics, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, United StatesMultiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) allows genome-scale imaging of RNAs in individual cells in intact tissues. To date, MERFISH has been applied to image thin-tissue samples of ~10 µm thickness. Here, we present a thick-tissue three-dimensional (3D) MERFISH imaging method, which uses confocal microscopy for optical sectioning, deep learning for increasing imaging speed and quality, as well as sample preparation and imaging protocol optimized for thick samples. We demonstrated 3D MERFISH on mouse brain tissue sections of up to 200 µm thickness with high detection efficiency and accuracy. We anticipate that 3D thick-tissue MERFISH imaging will broaden the scope of questions that can be addressed by spatial genomics.https://elifesciences.org/articles/90029spatial genomicsMERFISHbraingenome-scale imagingthick-tissue imagingspatial transcriptomics
spellingShingle Rongxin Fang
Aaron Halpern
Mohammed Mostafizur Rahman
Zhengkai Huang
Zhiyun Lei
Sebastian J Hell
Catherine Dulac
Xiaowei Zhuang
Three-dimensional single-cell transcriptome imaging of thick tissues
eLife
spatial genomics
MERFISH
brain
genome-scale imaging
thick-tissue imaging
spatial transcriptomics
title Three-dimensional single-cell transcriptome imaging of thick tissues
title_full Three-dimensional single-cell transcriptome imaging of thick tissues
title_fullStr Three-dimensional single-cell transcriptome imaging of thick tissues
title_full_unstemmed Three-dimensional single-cell transcriptome imaging of thick tissues
title_short Three-dimensional single-cell transcriptome imaging of thick tissues
title_sort three dimensional single cell transcriptome imaging of thick tissues
topic spatial genomics
MERFISH
brain
genome-scale imaging
thick-tissue imaging
spatial transcriptomics
url https://elifesciences.org/articles/90029
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AT aaronhalpern threedimensionalsinglecelltranscriptomeimagingofthicktissues
AT mohammedmostafizurrahman threedimensionalsinglecelltranscriptomeimagingofthicktissues
AT zhengkaihuang threedimensionalsinglecelltranscriptomeimagingofthicktissues
AT zhiyunlei threedimensionalsinglecelltranscriptomeimagingofthicktissues
AT sebastianjhell threedimensionalsinglecelltranscriptomeimagingofthicktissues
AT catherinedulac threedimensionalsinglecelltranscriptomeimagingofthicktissues
AT xiaoweizhuang threedimensionalsinglecelltranscriptomeimagingofthicktissues