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10x Genomics
Chromium Single Cell Immune Profiling

Cell Ranger3.0, printed on 12/22/2024

Integrated V(D)J + 5’ Gene Expression + Feature Barcoding for Cell Surface Protein Analysis in Loupe Cell Browser

Starting with Cell Ranger 3.0, it is possible to measure immune profiling and gene expression data along with additional analytes using Feature Barcoding technology. This allows users to assess other cell features such as cell surface marker expression or TCR-Antigen specificity to complement the gene expression and immune profile data. Loupe Cell Browser 3.0 has a number of features that facilitate Feature Barcoding for Cell Surface Protein analysis.

Classifying Cell Types Using Surface Markers

To see an example of the integrated analysis of immune profiling data with gene expression and cell surface marker expression (labeled with TotalSeq™-C barcoded antibodies), download the files from the link below:

This dataset was generated using roughly 8,000 PBMCs labeled with a panel of 17 TotalSeq™-C antibodies.

The .cloupe file below shows a conventional gene expression t-SNE plot:

The additional cell surface marker expression data can be used to create new plots in Loupe Cell Browser 3.0 to more precisely identify markers of interest.

Using the Feature Plot

Loupe Cell Browser 3.0's Feature Plot plots cell barcodes by the expression of one or two features, which makes it easy to threshold cell populations by expression levels, particularly for features with high dynamic range, such as cell surface markers.

To identify CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells, select Feature Plot in the projection dropdown. This will switch the axes from t-SNE axes to feature axes. Both the feature to plot and the scale (linear or log) of the axis can be changed using the selectors atop the Y axis and on the right side of the X axis.

Change the Y axis to plot the CD3_TotalSeqC surface marker expression, and click the button next to the feature selector to select a log scale. Representative graph below:

Several inflection points are seen in the curve. Around the 4200th cell on the X axis, the counts per cell increase from 20 counts per cell to over 500; this is a representative threshold for CD3+ cells.

Another feature may be plotted on the X axis by choosing the CD4_TotalSeqC antibody feature and log scale for the X axis (as well as coloring by total cell surface marker expression per cell -- Antibody Capture Sum). Representative graph below:

The cells with high CD3 surface marker expression (top of graph) are T cells; CD4+ helper T cells with high CD4 surface marker expression are at top right. Using the rectangle or lasso tools, assign the CD3+/CD4+ cells to a "CD4+ T Cells" cluster. In a similar manner, assign CD3+/CD8+ cells (using the CD8a_TotalSeqC marker) to a "CD8+ T Cells" cluster. This assignment mechanism allows for more accurate filtering than through the t-SNE plots.

The feature plot is also useful for isolating true positive populations against negative control markers, in both surface marker and TCR-Antigen specificity applications, or identifying and excluding possible doublets from existing clusters. The rest of this exercise excludes cells with elevated counts of both CD8 and CD4 surface markers from cell type assignments.

Integration with Immune Profiling

With CD4+ and CD8+ T cell clusters established, clonotypes which are enriched for those particular clusters can be identified. Switch to V(D)J Clonotypes mode with the mode selector, and import the T Cell receptor .vloupe file downloaded from the link above. Next, in the Filter selector underneath the clonotype list, select Cluster. Finally, choose the CD8+ T Cells cluster created in the section above. Representative graph below:

A list of clonotypes are enriched in the CD3+/CD8+ cluster and include some MAIT cells (TRAV1-2/TRAJ33), but there are a few more clonotypes enriched in that subset. Similar analysis can be performed for other T cell clusters.

Further Applications for Immune Profiling

Using the feature plot to identify subpopulations of interest and then measuring clonotype enrichment for those clusters is particularly interesting for analyzing datasets generated from cells labeled with peptide-MHC multimers conjugated to Feature Barcode oligonucleotides. T-cell receptor clonotypes can be linked to antigen specificity by using the Feature Plot to isolate cells with antigen binding counts higher than the negative control, and then using the clonotype list to find the paired chains of the cells bound to that antigen.

Antigens preferentially bound to a dominant clonotype can be identified in the datasets. Right-click on the clonotypes of interest and select 'Assign to Category...' to create a cluster out of cells with the selected clonotype(s). After assignment, find preferentially bound antigens by using the Significant Feature tool in Categories mode. Choose "Globally Distinguishing" from the Significant Feature Comparison dropdown, and "Antibody Capture" (includes cell surface markers and TCR-Antigen specificity) as the Feature Type. The data table will show preferentially bound antigens from the feature reference.

Using the surface marker dataset, choose a clonotype of interest, and choose "Antibody Capture" as the significant feature type:

The cells in the top clonotype have higher levels of CD127 and CD3 surface marker expression, though not dramatically so from other T cells. When compared against the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations, the top clonotype is a MAIT cell clonotype with elevated CD56 surface marker expression.