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High-throughput transcriptomics has revolutionised the field of transcriptome research by offering a cost-effective and powerful screening tool. Standard bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) enables characterisation of the average expression profiles for individual samples and facilitates identification of the molecular functions associated with genes differentially expressed across conditions. RNA-Seq can also be applied to disentangle splicing variants and discover novel transcripts, thus contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the transcriptome landscape. A closely related technique, single-cell RNA-Seq, has enabled the study of cell-type-specific gene expressions in hundreds to thousands of cells, aiding the exploration of cell heterogeneity. Nowadays, bulk RNA-Seq and single-cell RNA-Seq serve as complementary tools to advance and accelerate the development of transcriptome-based resources. This Collection illustrates how the current global research community makes use of these techniques to address a broad range of questions in life sciences. It demonstrates the usefulness and popularity of high-throughput transcriptomics and presents the best practices and potential issues for the benefit of future end-users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current reports on the changes in peripheral blood regulatory T cell (Tregs) to CD4+ T cell ratio in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients are varied in their conclusions. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to identify the actual change in the proportion of peripheral Tregs in SSc. Three databases, namely EMBASE, ISI web of knowledge, and Pubmed were systematically searched for relevant literature. Approximately 250 SSc patients and controls from several studies were included in this analysis. Comprehensive Meta Analysis Version 2.0 software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results of the meta-analysis showed high degree of heterogeneity (I2 = 96.98), and a random-effect model was used in the subsequent analysis. The ratio of circulating Tregs to CD4+ T cell in SSc was lower than in controls, but not statistically significantly so (−0.61 ± 0.94, P = 0.52). Subgroup analysis did not identify any potential source of heterogeneity. This meta-analysis indicated that Tregs might play a less prominent immunosuppressive role in the immune system in SSc patients, but needs further confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current reports on the changes in peripheral blood regulatory T cell (Tregs) to CD4 + T cell ratio in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients are varied in their conclusions. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to identify the actual change in the proportion of peripheral Tregs in SSc. Three databases, namely EMBASE, ISI web of knowledge, and Pubmed were systematically searched for relevant literature. Approximately 250 SSc patients and controls from several studies were included in this analysis. Comprehensive Meta Analysis Version 2.0 software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results of the meta-analysis showed high degree of heterogeneity (I 2  = 96.98), and a random-effect model was used in the subsequent analysis. The ratio of circulating Tregs to CD4 + T cell in SSc was lower than in controls, but not statistically significantly so (-0.61 ± 0.94, P = 0.52). Subgroup analysis did not identify any potential source of heterogeneity. This meta-analysis indicated that Tregs might play a less prominent immunosuppressive role in the immune system in SSc patients, but needs further confirmation.