Publication Summary
This study by McGregor et al. describes how researchers created a detailed spatial atlas of Crohn’s disease fistulae to understand their formation and persistence. Using spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing on 68 fistula samples, they identified specialized “fistula-associated stromal” (FAS) fibroblasts arranged in concentric layers around fistula tracts, each with distinct functions from active remodeling to fibrosis. These FAS cells express developmental transcription factors like TWIST1 and PRRX1 that drive tissue invasion and abnormal tunnel formation. The study reveals that common molecular pathways underpin fistulae across different intestinal locations, and similar FAS-like cells appear at the base of ulcers in non-fistulating Crohn’s disease, suggesting these may be precursors to fistula formation.
How was Levitation Technology Used in the Paper?
The LeviCell 1.0 platform was used as an alternative method for live stromal cell enrichment (vs FACS) from intestinal tissue samples. It offered researchers several benefits over FACS:
- Reduced handling time and cell stress compared to FACS
- Viability-based separation simultaneously removes dead cells while enriching target population
- Higher cell recovery due to fewer processing steps
- Well-suited for fragile stromal cells that might be damaged by extended FACS procedures
This citation demonstrates LeviCell’s utility in high-quality single-cell genomics workflows where preserving cell viability and reducing technical artifacts are critical for accurate transcriptional profiling.
