Spatial transcriptomics defines the cell-specific RNA landscape of equine dorsal root ganglia.

The research explores gene expression differences in various regions of healthy horse spinal nerve bundles (dorsal root ganglia-DRG) to understand neurological diseases often seen in sports and racing horses.

Goals of the Study

• The research aims to give detailed information on the gene expression landscape of healthy horse DRG by examining different regions using GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling technology from NanoString.
• It intends to identify and confirm the presence of specific genes in equine (horse) cells using four human cell markers.
• The end goal is to apply the knowledge learned from the healthy DRG to map cell-specific gene expression changes in disease states.

Rationale and Methodology

• The researchers used four human cell markers- MAP2, MBP, IBA1/AIF1, and Syto83 nuclear marker- that were found to work well in horse cells.
• DRG regions rich in specific markers (MBP-rich, IBA1-high, and IBA1-low) were chosen for detailed gene expression analysis.
• The gene expression of these regions was utilized to ascertain and confirm the genes present in the respective areas.

Results and Validation

• The research confirmed that genes associated with myelination (a process important for nerve function) were abundant in the MBP-rich regions.
• Similarly, it identified glia-specific genes (those related to non-neuronal cells in the brain and spinal cord) in the IBA1-high regions.
• The results provide a baseline for understanding the normal state of gene expression within the horse DRG, which will be useful in future research to detect changes during disease states.

Conclusion and Further Implication

• The study successfully employed spatial transcriptomics and human cell markers to map the gene expression landscape of the equine DRG.
• This research provides a baseline understanding of healthy equine DRG that can be used to explore changes at the molecular level when horses develop neurodegenerative conditions.
• Such knowledge will be instrumental in accurately diagnosing and developing therapeutic approaches for equine neurological diseases, which often lead to career-ending outcomes for sport and racing horses.