Decoding Activation of ILC2 using Time-Dependent Cell-State Selection

Abstract Cell fate determination, a fundamental process of life, is controlled through dynamic intracellular molecular networks. However, the low population of cells at the switching period of fate determination has made it technically difficult to analyze the transcriptome of the stage. Here we developed the Time-Dependent Cell-State Selection (TDCSS) technique, which detects an index of the switching period by live-cell imaging of secretion activity followed by simultaneous recoveries of the indexed cells for subsequent transcriptome analysis. Specifically, we used the TDCSS technique to study the switching period of group2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) activation indexed by interleukin (IL)-13 secretion onset. TDCSS newly classified time-dependent genes, including transiently induced genes (TIGs). The finding of IL4 and MIR155HG as TIGs demonstrated their regulatory function of ILC2s activation.