RPanglaoDB: An R Package to Download and Merge Labeled Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data from the PanglaoDB Database

The study introduced rPanglaoDB, an R package designed to download and merge single-cell RNA-seq data from the PanglaoDB database, facilitating the integration of multiple public datasets to study rare cell types. The package was demonstrated by collecting and characterizing 157 fibrocytes, a rare cell type with both inflammatory and tissue remodeling properties. This study provided the first unbiased transcriptome profile of fibrocytes, comparing them to fibroblasts from the same tissue samples. The findings confirmed fibrocytes' role in healing processes through the activation of the prostaglandin biosynthesis and regulation pathway. The rPanglaoDB package was made available on CRAN for public use.