Schmidt M.D.Ishahak M.Augsornworawat P.Millman J.R.Mahidol University2024-02-082024-02-082024-12-01BMC Genomics Vol.25 No.1 (2024)https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/95617Diabetes cell replacement therapy has the potential to be transformed by human pluripotent stem cell-derived β cells (SC-β cells). However, the precise identity of SC-β cells in relationship to primary fetal and adult β-cells remains unclear. Here, we used single-cell sequencing datasets to characterize the transcriptional identity of islets from in vitro differentiation, fetal islets, and adult islets. Our analysis revealed that SC-β cells share a core β-cell transcriptional identity with human adult and fetal β-cells, however SC-β cells possess a unique transcriptional profile characterized by the persistent expression and activation of progenitor and neural-biased gene networks. These networks are present in SC-β cells, irrespective of the derivation protocol used. Notably, fetal β-cells also exhibit this neural signature at the transcriptional level. Our findings offer insights into the transcriptional identity of SC-β cells and underscore the need for further investigation of the role of neural transcriptional networks in their development.Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyArticleSCOPUS10.1186/s12864-024-10013-x2-s2.0-851829908821471216438267908