Smooth Muscle Transcriptome Browser: offering genome-wide references and expression profiles of transcripts expressed in intestinal SMC, ICC, and PDGFRα(+) cells

Transcriptome data on the quantitative numbers of transcriptional variants expressed in primary cells offer essential clues into specific cellular functions and biological processes. We have previously collected transcriptomes from primary smooth muscle cells (SMC), interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), and PDGFRα(+) cells (fibroblast-like cells) isolated from murine jejunal and colonic smooth muscle and/or mucosal tissues as well as transcriptomes from the associated tissues (jejunal smooth muscle, colonic smooth muscle, and colonic mucosa). In this study, we have built the Smooth Muscle Transcriptome Browser (SMTB), https://med.unr.edu/physio/transcriptome, a web-based, graphical user interface that offers genetic references and expression profiles of all transcripts expressed at both the cellular (SMC, ICC, and PDGFRα(+) cells) and tissue level (smooth muscle and mucosal tissue). This browser brings new insights into the cellular and biological functions of the cell types in gastrointestinal smooth muscle biology.