# Dentate Gyrus¶

The dataset used in here for velocity analysis is from the dentate gyrus, a part of the hippocampus which is involved in learning, episodic memory formation and spatial coding.

It is measured using 10X Genomics Chromium and described in Hochgerner et al. (2018). The data consists of 25,919 genes across 2,930 cells forming multiple lineages.

[1]:

import scvelo as scv
scv.logging.print_version()

Running scvelo 0.2.0 (python 3.8.2) on 2020-05-14 23:46.

[2]:

scv.settings.verbosity = 3  # show errors(0), warnings(1), info(2), hints(3)
scv.settings.presenter_view = True  # set max width size for presenter view
scv.set_figure_params('scvelo')  # for beautified visualization



## Load and cleanup the data¶

The following analysis is based on the in-built dentate gyrus dataset.

To run velocity analysis on your own data, read your file (loom, h5ad, xlsx, csv, tab, txt …) to an AnnData object with adata = scv.read('path/file.loom', cache=True).

If you want to merge your loom file into an already existing AnnData object, use scv.utils.merge(adata, adata_loom).

[3]:

adata = scv.datasets.dentategyrus()

[4]:

# show proportions of spliced/unspliced abundances

Abundance of ['spliced', 'unspliced']: [0.9 0.1]

[4]:

AnnData object with n_obs × n_vars = 2930 × 13913
obs: 'clusters', 'age(days)', 'clusters_enlarged'
uns: 'clusters_colors'
obsm: 'X_umap'
layers: 'ambiguous', 'spliced', 'unspliced'


If you have a very large datasets, you can save memory by clearing attributes not required via scv.utils.cleanup(adata).

## Preprocess the data¶

Preprocessing that is necessary consists of : - gene selection by detection (detected with a minimum number of counts) and high variability (dispersion). - normalizing every cell by its initial size and logarithmizing X.

Filtering and normalization is applied in the same vein to spliced/unspliced counts and X. Logarithmizing is only applied to X. If X is already preprocessed from former analysis, it won’t touch it.

All of this is summarized in a single function pp.filter_and_normalize, which basically runs the following:

scv.pp.filter_genes(adata, min_shared_counts=10)


Further, we need the first and second order moments (basically mean and uncentered variance) computed among nearest neighbors in PCA space. First order is needed for deterministic velocity estimation, while stochastic estimation also requires second order moments.

[5]:

scv.pp.filter_and_normalize(adata, min_shared_counts=30, n_top_genes=2000)


Filtered out 11019 genes that are detected in less than 30 counts (shared).
Normalized count data: X, spliced, unspliced.
Logarithmized X.
computing neighbors
computing moments based on connectivities
'Ms' and 'Mu', moments of spliced/unspliced abundances (adata.layers)


## Compute velocity and velocity graph¶

The gene-specific velocities are obtained by fitting a ratio between precursor (unspliced) and mature (spliced) mRNA abundances that well explains the steady states (constant transcriptional state) and then computing how the observed abundances deviate from what is expected in steady state. (We will soon release a version that does not rely on the steady state assumption anymore).

Every tool has its plotting counterpart. The results from scv.tl.velocity, for instance, can be visualized using scv.pl.velocity.

[6]:

scv.tl.velocity(adata)

computing velocities
'velocity', velocity vectors for each individual cell (adata.layers)


This computes the (cosine) correlation of potential cell transitions with the velocity vector in high dimensional space. The resulting velocity graph has dimension $$n_{obs} \times n_{obs}$$ and summarizes the possible cell state changes (given by a transition from one cell to another) that are well explained through the velocity vectors. If you set approx=True it is computed on a reduced PCA space with 50 components.

The velocity graph can then be converted to a transition matrix by applying a Gaussian kernel on the cosine correlation which assigns high probabilities to cell state changes that correlate with the velocity vector. You can access the Markov transition matrix via scv.tl.transition_matrix. The resulting transition matrix can be used for a variety of applications shown hereinafter. For instance, it is used to place the velocities into a low-dimensional embedding by simply applying the mean transition with respect to the transition probabilities, i.e. scv.tl.velocity_embedding. Further, we can trace cells back along the Markov chain to their origins and potential fates, thus obtaining root cells and end points within a trajectory; via scv.tl.terminal_states.

[7]:

scv.tl.velocity_graph(adata)

computing velocity graph
'velocity_graph', sparse matrix with cosine correlations (adata.uns)


## Plot results¶

Finally, the velocities are projected onto any embedding specified in basis and visualized in one of three available ways: on single cell level, on grid level, or as streamplot as shown here.

[8]:

scv.pl.velocity_embedding_stream(adata, basis='umap', color=['clusters', 'age(days)'])


computing velocity embedding

[9]:

scv.pl.velocity_embedding(adata, basis='umap', arrow_length=2, arrow_size=2, dpi=150)


[10]:

scv.pl.velocity_embedding_grid(adata, color='Tmsb10',
layer=['velocity', 'spliced'], arrow_size=1.5)

[11]:

scv.tl.rank_velocity_genes(adata, groupby='clusters')


ranking velocity genes
'rank_velocity_genes', sorted scores by group ids (adata.uns)

[11]:

Astrocytes Cajal Retzius Cck-Tox Endothelial GABA Granule immature Granule mature Microglia Mossy Neuroblast OL OPC Radial Glia-like nIPC
0 Phkg1 Utrn Golga7b Serpine2 Stmn2 Shisa9 Grasp Srgap2 Chgb Mt3 Clmn Tnr 2810459M11Rik Bzw2
1 Ctnnd2 Scg3 Irf9 Arhgap31 Vsnl1 Jph1 2010300C02Rik Clic4 Pgm2l1 Gdpd1 Gprc5b Hmgcs1 Ctnnd2 Igfbpl1
2 Lsamp Tmem47 Cplx2 Tmsb10 Lancl1 Sphkap Rtn4rl1 Qk Fxyd1 Slc38a2 Arrdc3 Luzp2 Hepacam Rps27l
3 Qk Dpysl3 Stmn2 Igf1r Mtus2 Pgbd5 Wasf1 Ssh2 Mapk6 Bzw2 Pcdh9 Elavl3 Ptn Tbrg4
4 Cspg5 Sh3glb1 Nfkbia Prex2 Elavl3 Pip5k1b Jph1 Sirt2 Osbpl6 Epha4 Gatm Ppp1r14c Lsamp Mpzl1
[12]:

var_names = ['Tmsb10', 'Camk2a', 'Ppp3ca', 'Igfbpl1']

[13]:

scv.pl.velocity_graph(adata)