ODP011 Single Nuclei RNA-Sequencing of Frozen Human Adipose Tissue and PET/CT Imaging Coupled With Deep-Learning Reveals Single-Cell Landscape and Transcriptional Dynamics Related to Adipocyte Hypertrophy and in Vivo Dysmetabolism
Authors: Ye Run Zhou , Montastier Emilie , Frisch Frédérique , Noll Christophe , Allard-Chamard Hugues , Gévry Nicolas , Tchernof André , Carpentier André 
Published: November 2022

Background

Adipocyte hypertrophy is associated with glucose and lipid dysmetabolism, ectopic fat accumulation, and metabolic complications independently of the level of obesity [1]. In this study, we aimed to explore potential mechanisms driving the obesity-independent, hypertrophy-associated dysmetabolism at a single-cell resolution and to assess the applicability of single nuclei RNA-sequencing of flash-frozen human subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) to probe for these metabolic differences.

Methods

In 40 healthy participants, peri-umbilical subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies were collected by needle aspiration to determine adipocyte size. Tissue uptake of dietary fat was quantified via oral 18-fluoro-thiaheptadecanoic acid administration with positron emission tomography (PET) [2]. Rates of fatty acid oxidation and esterification were measured using intravenous [11C]-palmitate with PET and multi-compartmental modeling. PET/CT segmentation using deep convolutional neural networks was done with DeepImageTranslator [3,4]. Single nuclei RNA-sequencing was performed in two individuals with AT hypertrophy vs. hyperplasia but matched for the same sex, ethnicity, glucose-tolerance status, BMI, total and percent body fat, and waist circumference. Nuclei were extracted from frozen AT and purified by flow cytometry following a protocol that we have developed and validated. Capture of single nuclei and preparation of RNA libraries were done with 10X Genomics technology.

Results

Unsupervised clustering identified a number of cell-type markers identical to those previously reported in murine epididymal AT and human AT. We found reduced quantities of fibroadipogenic cells per volume of AT with fat cell hypertrophy. Furthermore, the fraction of DPP4+ fibroblasts is increased with AT hypertrophy. Analyses of RNA velocity shows decreased velocity of adipocyte transformation from a transcriptionally active (TADA) phenotype to mature adipocytes in AT hypertrophy. Furthermore, in AT hypertrophy, adipocytes from the early TADA stage are destined to become insulin-resistant adipocytes, whereas those in AT hyperplasia are developing into an insulin-sensitive phenotype. Metabolic imaging results show that hypertrophied subcutaneous AT is associated with lower subcutaneous and higher visceral AT volume and dietary fatty acid storage capacity.

Conclusion

We have documented, for the first time, the applicability and consistency of single-nuclei RNA-sequencing of frozen human subcutaneous AT. We uncovered changes in cell clusters and subclusters of adipocytes, fibroblasts, pericytes, endothelial and immune cells as well as differences in transcriptional dynamics and developmental trajectory. [1] Ye RZ, et al. Endocrine reviews. 2022 Feb;43(1): 35-60. [2] Montastier É, Ye RZ, et al. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2021 Jun 1;320(6): E1093-106. [3] R. Z. Ye, et al., DeepImageTranslator: A free, user-friendly graphical interface for image translation using deep-learning and its applications in 3D CT image analysis, SLAS Technology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slast.2021.10. 014, [4] Ye EZ, Ye EH, Ye RZ. DeepImageTranslator V2: analysis of multimodal medical images using semantic segmentation maps generated through deep learning. bioRxiv. 2021 Jan 1.

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