Study on transcriptome characteristics of renal SOX9-positive progenitor cells based on sin⁃gle-cell RNA sequencing

Objective:To explore the transcriptome characteristics of SOX9-positive progenitor cells in normal human kidneys based on single-cell RNA sequencing, so as to provide a basis for renal regenerative medicine research.Methods:Published single-cell RNA sequencing data of normal human kidneys were collected from GEO database.The transcriptome characteristics analysis of SOX9-positive progenitor cells in normal human kidneys was performed by differential gene analysis, functional enrichment analysis and pseudotime trajectories analysis.The results of relevant analysis were verified by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence experiments.Results:In our study, SOX9-positive cells were mainly found in proximal tubules in normal human kidney tissue.GO analysis showed that SOX9-positive cells in proximal tubules still maintained progenitor cell like characteristics.Further subpopulation analysis showed that the proximal tubule SOX9-positive cells could be divided into C1, C2 and C3 subgroups.Among them, C2 subgroup highly expressed SOX4, HES1, MYC, KLF4 and other genes related to stem cell state maintenance, and was in the starting position in the differentiation trajectory of SOX9-positive cells.Conclusion:Some SOX9-positive cells in human kidney still maintain progenitor cell like properties, which have potential value in regenerative medicine research.