Spatial transcriptomics
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Spatial transcriptomics is revolutionizing modern biology, offering researchers an unprecedented ability to unravel intricate gene expression patterns within tissues. From pioneering techniques to newly commercialized platforms, the field of spatial transcriptomics has evolved rapidly, ushering in a new era of understanding across various disciplines, from developmental biology to disease research. This dynamic expansion is reflected in the rapidly growing number of technologies and data analysis techniques developed and introduced. However, the expanding landscape presents a considerable challenge for researchers, especially newcomers to the field, as staying informed about these advancements becomes increasingly complex. To address this challenge, we have prepared an updated review with a particular focus on technologies that have reached commercialization and are, therefore, accessible to a broad spectrum of potential new users. In this review, we present the fundamental principles of spatial transcriptomic methods, discuss the challenges in data analysis, provide insights into experimental considerations, offer information about available resources for spatial transcriptomics, and conclude with a guide for method selection and a forward-looking perspective. Our aim is to serve as a guiding resource for both experienced users and newcomers navigating the complex realm of spatial transcriptomics in this era of rapid development. We intend to equip researchers with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions and contribute to the cutting-edge research that spatial transcriptomics offers.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese * metody MeSH
- transkriptom * MeSH
- výpočetní biologie metody MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Extramedullary disease (EMD) is a high-risk feature of multiple myeloma (MM) and remains a poor prognostic factor, even in the era of novel immunotherapies. Here, we applied spatial transcriptomics (RNA tomography for spatially resolved transcriptomics [tomo-seq] [n = 2] and 10x Visium [n = 12]) and single-cell RNA sequencing (n = 3) to a set of 14 EMD biopsies to dissect the 3-dimensional architecture of tumor cells and their microenvironment. Overall, infiltrating immune and stromal cells showed both intrapatient and interpatient variations, with no uniform distribution over the lesion. We observed substantial heterogeneity at the copy number level within plasma cells, including the emergence of new subclones in circumscribed areas of the tumor, which is consistent with genomic instability. We further identified the spatial expression differences between GPRC5D and TNFRSF17, 2 important antigens for bispecific antibody therapy. EMD masses were infiltrated by various immune cells, including T cells. Notably, exhausted TIM3+/PD-1+ T cells diffusely colocalized with MM cells, whereas functional and activated CD8+ T cells showed a focal infiltration pattern along with M1 macrophages in tumor-free regions. This segregation of fit and exhausted T cells was resolved in the case of response to T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies. MM and microenvironment cells were embedded in a complex network that influenced immune activation and angiogenesis, and oxidative phosphorylation represented the major metabolic program within EMD lesions. In summary, spatial transcriptomics has revealed a multicellular ecosystem in EMD with checkpoint inhibition and dual targeting as potential new therapeutic avenues.
During pregnancy, two fetomaternal interfaces, the placenta-decidua basalis and the fetal membrane-decidua parietals, allow for fetal growth and maturation and fetal-maternal crosstalk, and protect the fetus from infectious and inflammatory signaling that could lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. While the placenta has been studied extensively, the fetal membranes have been understudied, even though they play critical roles in pregnancy maintenance and the initiation of term or preterm parturition. Fetal membrane dysfunction has been associated with spontaneous preterm birth (PTB, < 37 weeks gestation) and preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (PPROM), which is a disease of the fetal membranes. However, it is unknown how the individual layers of the fetal membrane decidual interface (the amnion epithelium [AEC], the amnion mesenchyme [AMC], the chorion [CTC], and the decidua [DEC]) contribute to these pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we used a single-cell transcriptomics approach to unravel the transcriptomics network at spatial levels to discern the contributions of each layer of the fetal membranes and the adjoining maternal decidua during the following conditions: scheduled caesarian section (term not in labor [TNIL]; n = 4), vaginal term in labor (TIL; n = 3), preterm labor with and without rupture of membranes (PPROM; n = 3; and PTB; n = 3). The data included 18,815 genes from 13 patients (including TIL, PTB, PPROM, and TNIL) expressed across the four layers. After quality control, there were 11,921 genes and 44 samples. The data were processed by two pipelines: one by hierarchical clustering the combined cases and the other to evaluate heterogeneity within the cases. Our visual analytical approach revealed spatially recognized differentially expressed genes that aligned with four gene clusters. Cluster 1 genes were present predominantly in DECs and Cluster 3 centered around CTC genes in all labor phenotypes. Cluster 2 genes were predominantly found in AECs in PPROM and PTB, while Cluster 4 contained AMC and CTC genes identified in term labor cases. We identified the top 10 differentially expressed genes and their connected pathways (kinase activation, NF-κB, inflammation, cytoskeletal remodeling, and hormone regulation) per cluster in each tissue layer. An in-depth understanding of the involvement of each system and cell layer may help provide targeted and tailored interventions to reduce the risk of PTB.
- MeSH
- amnion metabolismus cytologie MeSH
- chorion metabolismus MeSH
- decidua * metabolismus MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- extraembryonální obaly * metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- porod v termínu genetika MeSH
- předčasný odtok plodové vody genetika metabolismus MeSH
- předčasný porod * genetika MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- transkriptom * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Adipose tissue is composed of adipocytes and cells from the stromal vascular fraction. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Bäckdahl et al. (2021) use spatial transcriptomics to provide a first glimpse at the architecture of human adipose tissue. The authors identify distinct adipocyte subpopulations with specific metabolic features.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- transkriptom * genetika MeSH
- tuková tkáň MeSH
- tukové buňky * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- komentáře MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The interplay among different cells in a tissue is essential for maintaining homeostasis. Although disease states have been traditionally attributed to individual cell types, increasing evidence and new therapeutic options have demonstrated the primary role of multicellular functions to understand health and disease, opening new avenues to understand pathogenesis and develop new treatment strategies. We recently described the cellular composition and dynamics of the human oral mucosa; however, the spatial arrangement of cells is needed to better understand a morphologically complex tissue. Here, we link single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and high-resolution multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridisation to characterise human oral mucosa in health and oral chronic inflammatory disease. We deconvolved expression for resolution enhancement of spatial transcriptomic data and defined highly specialised epithelial and stromal compartments describing location-specific immune programs. Furthermore, we spatially mapped a rare pathogenic fibroblast population localised in a highly immunogenic region, responsible for lymphocyte recruitment through CXCL8 and CXCL10 and with a possible role in pathological angiogenesis through ALOX5AP. Collectively, our study provides a comprehensive reference for the study of oral chronic disease pathogenesis.
Reactive astrogliosis is a reaction of astrocytes to disturbed homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS), accompanied by changes in astrocyte numbers, morphology, and function. Reactive astrocytes are important in the onset and progression of many neuropathologies, such as neurotrauma, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. Single-cell transcriptomics has revealed remarkable heterogeneity of reactive astrocytes, indicating their multifaceted functions in a whole spectrum of neuropathologies, with important temporal and spatial resolution, both in the brain and in the spinal cord. Interestingly, transcriptomic signatures of reactive astrocytes partially overlap between neurological diseases, suggesting shared and unique gene expression patterns in response to individual neuropathologies. In the era of single-cell transcriptomics, the number of new datasets steeply increases, and they often benefit from comparisons and integration with previously published work. Here, we provide an overview of reactive astrocyte populations defined by single-cell or single-nucleus transcriptomics across multiple neuropathologies, attempting to facilitate the search for relevant reference points and to improve the interpretability of new datasets containing cells with signatures of reactive astrocytes.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
To date, single-cell studies of human white adipose tissue (WAT) have been based on small cohort sizes and no cellular consensus nomenclature exists. Herein, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of publicly available and newly generated single-cell, single-nucleus, and spatial transcriptomic results from human subcutaneous, omental, and perivascular WAT. Our high-resolution map is built on data from ten studies and allowed us to robustly identify >60 subpopulations of adipocytes, fibroblast and adipogenic progenitors, vascular, and immune cells. Using these results, we deconvolved spatial and bulk transcriptomic data from nine additional cohorts to provide spatial and clinical dimensions to the map. This identified cell-cell interactions as well as relationships between specific cell subtypes and insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, adipocyte volume, and lipolysis upon long-term weight changes. Altogether, our meta-map provides a rich resource defining the cellular and microarchitectural landscape of human WAT and describes the associations between specific cell types and metabolic states.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) operates as a signaling molecule in eukaryotes, but the specificity of its signaling capacities remains largely unrevealed. Here, we analyzed whether a moderate production of H2O2 from two different plant cellular compartments has divergent effects on the plant transcriptome. Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing glycolate oxidase in the chloroplast (Fahnenstich et al., 2008; Balazadeh et al., 2012) and plants deficient in peroxisomal catalase (Queval et al., 2007; Inzé et al., 2012) were grown under non-photorespiratory conditions and then transferred to photorespiratory conditions to foster the production of H2O2 in both organelles. We show that H2O2 originating in a specific organelle induces two types of responses: one that integrates signals independently from the subcellular site of H2O2 production and another that is dependent on the H2O2 production site. H2O2 produced in peroxisomes induces transcripts involved in protein repair responses, while H2O2 produced in chloroplasts induces early signaling responses, including transcription factors and biosynthetic genes involved in production of secondary signaling messengers. There is a significant bias towards the induction of genes involved in responses to wounding and pathogen attack by chloroplastic-produced H2O2, including indolic glucosinolates-, camalexin-, and stigmasterol-biosynthetic genes. These transcriptional responses were accompanied by the accumulation of 4-methoxy-indol-3-ylmethyl glucosinolate and stigmasterol.
- MeSH
- Arabidopsis cytologie účinky léků genetika metabolismus MeSH
- chloroplasty účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- geneticky modifikované rostliny MeSH
- genom rostlinný genetika MeSH
- kinetika MeSH
- metabolomika MeSH
- oxid uhličitý farmakologie MeSH
- peroxid vodíku metabolismus MeSH
- peroxizomy účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- stigmasterol metabolismus MeSH
- transkriptom * účinky léků MeSH
- tryptofan metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
BACKGROUND: The blood flukes of genus Schistosoma are the causative agent of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that infects more than 200 million people worldwide. Proteases of schistosomes are involved in critical steps of host-parasite interactions and are promising therapeutic targets. We recently identified and characterized a group of S1 family Schistosoma mansoni serine proteases, including SmSP1 to SmSP5. Expression levels of some SmSPs in S. mansoni are low, and by standard genome sequencing technologies they are marginally detectable at the method threshold levels. Here, we report their spatial gene expression patterns in adult S. mansoni by the high-sensitivity localization assay. METHODOLOGY: Highly sensitive fluorescence in situ RNA hybridization (FISH) was modified and used for the localization of mRNAs encoding individual SmSP proteases (including low-expressed SmSPs) in tissues of adult worms. High sensitivity was obtained due to specifically prepared tissue and probes in combination with the employment of a signal amplification approach. The assay method was validated by detecting the expression patterns of a set of relevant reference genes including SmCB1, SmPOP, SmTSP-2, and Sm29 with localization formerly determined by other techniques. RESULTS: FISH analysis revealed interesting expression patterns of SmSPs distributed in multiple tissues of S. mansoni adults. The expression patterns of individual SmSPs were distinct but in part overlapping and were consistent with existing transcriptome sequencing data. The exception were genes with significantly low expression, which were also localized in tissues where they had not previously been detected by RNA sequencing methods. In general, SmSPs were found in various tissues including reproductive organs, parenchymal cells, esophagus, and the tegumental surface. CONCLUSIONS: The FISH-based assay provided spatial information about the expression of five SmSPs in adult S. mansoni females and males. This highly sensitive method allowed visualization of low-abundantly expressed genes that are below the detection limits of standard in situ hybridization or by RNA sequencing. Thus, this technical approach turned out to be suitable for sensitive localization studies and may also be applicable for other trematodes. The results suggest that SmSPs may play roles in diverse processes of the parasite. Certain SmSPs expressed at the surface may be involved in host-parasite interactions.
- MeSH
- exprese genu * MeSH
- hybridizace in situ fluorescenční metody normy MeSH
- proteiny červů genetika MeSH
- RNA metabolismus MeSH
- Schistosoma mansoni enzymologie genetika MeSH
- serinové proteasy genetika MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Cancer immunotherapy is increasingly used in clinical practice, but its success rate is reduced by tumor escape from the immune system. This may be due to the genetic instability of tumor cells, which allows them to adapt to the immune response and leads to intratumoral immune heterogeneity. The study investigated spatial immune heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment and its possible drivers in a mouse model of tumors induced by human papillomaviruses (HPV) following immunotherapy. Gene expression was determined by RNA sequencing and mutations by whole exome sequencing. A comparison of different tumor areas revealed heterogeneity in immune cell infiltration, gene expression, and mutation composition. While the mean numbers of mutations with every impact on gene expression or protein function were comparable in treated and control tumors, mutations with high or moderate impact were increased after immunotherapy. The genes mutated in treated tumors were significantly enriched in genes associated with ECM metabolism, degradation, and interactions, HPV infection and carcinogenesis, and immune processes such as antigen processing and presentation, Toll-like receptor signaling, and cytokine production. Gene expression analysis of DNA damage and repair factors revealed that immunotherapy upregulated Apobec1 and Apobec3 genes and downregulated genes related to homologous recombination and translesion synthesis. In conclusion, this study describes the intratumoral immune heterogeneity, that could lead to tumor immune escape, and suggests the potential mechanisms involved.
- MeSH
- imunoterapie * metody MeSH
- infekce papilomavirem imunologie virologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- mutace * MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nádorové mikroprostředí * imunologie MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u nádorů MeSH
- sekvenování exomu MeSH
- únik nádoru z imunitní kontroly genetika MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH