Nature study maps lifelong transcriptome of human prefrontal cortex across 284 donors
Start here
A single-nucleus RNA sequencing study published in Nature by Yang Hui and colleagues analyzed more than 1.3 million nuclei from 284 donors in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, charting how gene expression unfolds across the lifespan. The work identifies a three-stage pattern: dramatic gene-expression changes during development, stability in adulthood, and renewed change in late life. Developmental changes concentrate in neurons and involve synaptic signaling, whereas late-life changes are dominated by glial cells showing immune and stress reprogramming, with circadian rhythms remodeled in both neurons and glia. The study delineates ten gene-expression trajectories and links cell-type-specific expression changes to genetic risk for schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Open questions include the mechanisms driving the late-life glial reprogramming and how these trajectories inform neuropsychiatric disease risk.
Written by a model from the reports · updated 2 hours ago
Coverage timeline
Follow the coverage to see the different angles.
- WeChatPickNature study maps lifelong transcriptome of human prefrontal cortex and reveals circadian remodeling
A single-nucleus RNA sequencing study published in Nature by Yang Hui and colleagues analyzed more than 1.3 million nuclei from 284 donors in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, identifying a three-stage pattern: dramatic gene-expression changes during development, stability in adulthood, and renewed change in late life. Developmental changes concentrated in neurons, involving synaptic signaling, while late-life changes were dominated by glial cells showing immune and stress reprogramming, with circadian rhythms remodeled in both neurons and glia. The study delineated ten gene-expression trajectories and linked cell-type-specific expression changes to genetic risk for schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
Coverage and heat for this story
Reports so far 1·Heat now 6·Peak heat 10 (Oct 20 00:00)·Reports, 24h +1
Two panels, same clock (pointer stays in sync): top is cumulative editorial reports — only rises; last point = All reports; slope = new reports that hour. Bottom is Live-board heatIndex — 7-day participants with a 24-hour half-life, so it can fall when talk cools.