101
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Liu R, Qian K, He X, Li H. Integration of scRNA-seq data by disentangled representation learning with condition domain adaptation. BMC Bioinformatics 2024; 25:116. [PMID: 38493095 PMCID: PMC10944609 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-024-05706-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The integration of single-cell RNA sequencing data from multiple experimental batches and diverse biological conditions holds significant importance in the study of cellular heterogeneity. RESULTS To expedite the exploration of systematic disparities under various biological contexts, we propose a scRNA-seq integration method called scDisco, which involves a domain-adaptive decoupling representation learning strategy for the integration of dissimilar single-cell RNA data. It constructs a condition-specific domain-adaptive network founded on variational autoencoders. scDisco not only effectively reduces batch effects but also successfully disentangles biological effects and condition-specific effects, and further augmenting condition-specific representations through the utilization of condition-specific Domain-Specific Batch Normalization layers. This enhancement enables the identification of genes specific to particular conditions. The effectiveness and robustness of scDisco as an integration method were analyzed using both simulated and real datasets, and the results demonstrate that scDisco can yield high-quality visualizations and quantitative outcomes. Furthermore, scDisco has been validated using real datasets, affirming its proficiency in cell clustering quality, retaining batch-specific cell types and identifying condition-specific genes. CONCLUSION scDisco is an effective integration method based on variational autoencoders, which improves analytical tasks of reducing batch effects, cell clustering, retaining batch-specific cell types and identifying condition-specific genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjing Liu
- School of Mathematics and Physics, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Kun Qian
- School of Mathematics and Physics, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xinwei He
- School of Mathematics and Physics, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Hongwei Li
- School of Mathematics and Physics, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430074, China.
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102
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Zhou X, Seow WY, Ha N, Cheng TH, Jiang L, Boonruangkan J, Goh JJL, Prabhakar S, Chou N, Chen KH. Highly sensitive spatial transcriptomics using FISHnCHIPs of multiple co-expressed genes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2342. [PMID: 38491027 PMCID: PMC10943009 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46669-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
High-dimensional, spatially resolved analysis of intact tissue samples promises to transform biomedical research and diagnostics, but existing spatial omics technologies are costly and labor-intensive. We present Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization of Cellular HeterogeneIty and gene expression Programs (FISHnCHIPs) for highly sensitive in situ profiling of cell types and gene expression programs. FISHnCHIPs achieves this by simultaneously imaging ~2-35 co-expressed genes (clustered into modules) that are spatially co-localized in tissues, resulting in similar spatial information as single-gene Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH), but with ~2-20-fold higher sensitivity. Using FISHnCHIPs, we image up to 53 modules from the mouse kidney and mouse brain, and demonstrate high-speed, large field-of-view profiling of a whole tissue section. FISHnCHIPs also reveals spatially restricted localizations of cancer-associated fibroblasts in a human colorectal cancer biopsy. Overall, FISHnCHIPs enables fast, robust, and scalable cell typing of tissues with normal physiology or undergoing pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinrui Zhou
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Wan Yi Seow
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Norbert Ha
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Teh How Cheng
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Lingfan Jiang
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Jeeranan Boonruangkan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Jolene Jie Lin Goh
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Shyam Prabhakar
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore
| | - Nigel Chou
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore.
| | - Kok Hao Chen
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore, 138672, Singapore.
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103
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Günther DM, Batiuk MY, Petukhov V, De Oliveira R, Wunderle T, Buchholz CJ, Fries P, Khodosevich K. Heterogeneity of layer 4 in visual areas of rhesus macaque cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.11.584345. [PMID: 38559123 PMCID: PMC10979896 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.11.584345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Recently, single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled unprecedented insights to the cellular landscape of the brains of many different species, among them the rhesus macaque as a key animal model. Building on previous, broader surveys of the macaque brain, we closely examined five immediately neighboring areas within the visual cortex of the rhesus macaque: V1, V2, V4, MT and TEO. To facilitate this, we first devised a novel pipeline for brain spatial archive - the BrainSPACE - which enabled robust archiving and sampling from the whole unfixed brain. SnRNA-sequencing of ~100,000 nuclei from visual areas V1 and V4 revealed conservation within the GABAergic neuron subtypes, while seven and one distinct principle neuron subtypes were detected in V1 and V4, respectively, all most likely located in layer 4. Moreover, using small molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization, we identified cell type density gradients across V1, V2, V4, MT, and TEO appearing to reflect the visual hierarchy. These findings demonstrate an association between the clear areal specializations among neighboring areas with the hierarchical levels within the visual cortex of the rhesus macaque.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothee M. Günther
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Mykhailo Y. Batiuk
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Viktor Petukhov
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Romain De Oliveira
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Wunderle
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christian J. Buchholz
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Pascal Fries
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 EN Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Konstantin Khodosevich
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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104
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Lu Y, Steiner R, Han S, Srivastava A, Shaik N, Chan M, Diallo A, Punshon T, Jackson B, Kolling F, Vahdat L, Vaickus L, Marotti J, Ho S, Levy J. Integrative Co-Registration of Elemental Imaging and Histopathology for Enhanced Spatial Multimodal Analysis of Tissue Sections through TRACE. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.06.583819. [PMID: 38559138 PMCID: PMC10979873 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.06.583819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Summary Elemental imaging provides detailed profiling of metal bioaccumulation, offering more precision than bulk analysis by targeting specific tissue areas. However, accurately identifying comparable tissue regions from elemental maps is challenging, requiring the integration of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides for effective comparison. Facilitating the streamlined co-registration of Whole Slide Images (WSI) and elemental maps, TRACE enhances the analysis of tissue regions and elemental abundance in various pathological conditions. Through an interactive containerized web application, TRACE features real-time annotation editing, advanced statistical tools, and data export, supporting comprehensive spatial analysis. Notably, it allows for comparison of elemental abundances across annotated tissue structures and enables integration with other spatial data types through WSI co-registration. Availability and Implementation Available on the following platforms- GitHub: jlevy44/trace_app , PyPI: trace_app , Docker: joshualevy44/trace_app , Singularity: joshualevy44/trace_app . Contact joshua.levy@cshs.org. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available.
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105
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Halmos P, Liu X, Gold J, Chen F, Ding L, Raphael BJ. DeST-OT: Alignment of Spatiotemporal Transcriptomics Data. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.05.583575. [PMID: 38496660 PMCID: PMC10942402 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.05.583575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) measures mRNA transcripts at thousands of locations within a tissue slice, revealing spatial variations in gene expression and distribution of cell types. In recent studies, SRT has been applied to tissue slices from multiple timepoints during the development of an organism. Alignment of this spatiotemporal transcriptomics data can provide insights into the gene expression programs governing the growth and differentiation of cells over space and time. We introduce DeST-OT (Developmental SpatioTemporal Optimal Transport), a method to align SRT slices from pairs of developmental timepoints using the framework of optimal transport (OT). DeST-OT uses semi-relaxed optimal transport to precisely model cellular growth, death, and differentiation processes that are not well-modeled by existing alignment methods. We demonstrate the advantage of DeST-OT on simulated slices. We further introduce two metrics to quantify the plausibility of a spatiotemporal alignment: a growth distortion metric which quantifies the discrepancy between the inferred and the true cell type growth rates, and a migration metric which quantifies the distance traveled between ancestor and descendant cells. DeST-OT outperforms existing methods on these metrics in the alignment of spatiotemporal transcriptomics data from the development of axolotl brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Halmos
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, 35 Olden St, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Xinhao Liu
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, 35 Olden St, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Julian Gold
- Center for Statistics and Machine Learning, Princeton University, 26 Prospect Ave, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Feng Chen
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Li Ding
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63108
| | - Benjamin J. Raphael
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, 35 Olden St, Princeton, NJ 08544
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106
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Jing Z, Zhu Q, Li L, Xie Y, Wu X, Fang Q, Yang B, Dai B, Xu X, Pan H, Bai Y. Spaco: A comprehensive tool for coloring spatial data at single-cell resolution. PATTERNS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 5:100915. [PMID: 38487801 PMCID: PMC10935509 DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2023.100915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Understanding tissue architecture and niche-specific microenvironments in spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) requires in situ annotation and labeling of cells. Effective spatial visualization of these data demands appropriate colorization of numerous cell types. However, current colorization frameworks often inadequately account for the spatial relationships between cell types. This results in perceptual ambiguity in neighboring cells of biological distinct types, particularly in complex environments such as brain or tumor. To address this, we introduce Spaco, a potent tool for spatially aware colorization. Spaco utilizes the Degree of Interlacement metric to construct a weighted graph that evaluates the spatial relationships among different cell types, refining color assignments. Furthermore, Spaco incorporates an adaptive palette selection approach to amplify chromatic distinctions. When benchmarked on four diverse datasets, Spaco outperforms existing solutions, capturing complex spatial relationships and boosting visual clarity. Spaco ensures broad accessibility by accommodating color vision deficiency and offering open-accessible code in both Python and R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Jing
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | | | - Linxuan Li
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Yue Xie
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Xinchao Wu
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310012, China
- School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qi Fang
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Bolin Yang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Baojun Dai
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310012, China
- School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xun Xu
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Hailin Pan
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310012, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Yinqi Bai
- BGI Research, Hangzhou 310012, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
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107
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Kwon Y, Woo J, Yu F, Williams SM, Markillie LM, Moore RJ, Nakayasu ES, Chen J, Campbell-Thompson M, Mathews CE, Nesvizhskii AI, Qia WJ, Zhu Y. Proteome-scale tissue mapping using mass spectrometry based on label-free and multiplexed workflows. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.04.583367. [PMID: 38496682 PMCID: PMC10942300 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.04.583367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Multiplexed bimolecular profiling of tissue microenvironment, or spatial omics, can provide deep insight into cellular compositions and interactions in both normal and diseased tissues. Proteome-scale tissue mapping, which aims to unbiasedly visualize all the proteins in whole tissue section or region of interest, has attracted significant interest because it holds great potential to directly reveal diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. While many approaches are available, however, proteome mapping still exhibits significant technical challenges in both protein coverage and analytical throughput. Since many of these existing challenges are associated with mass spectrometry-based protein identification and quantification, we performed a detailed benchmarking study of three protein quantification methods for spatial proteome mapping, including label-free, TMT-MS2, and TMT-MS3. Our study indicates label-free method provided the deepest coverages of ~3500 proteins at a spatial resolution of 50 μm and the largest quantification dynamic range, while TMT-MS2 method holds great benefit in mapping throughput at >125 pixels per day. The evaluation also indicates both label-free and TMT-MS2 provide robust protein quantifications in terms of identifying differentially abundant proteins and spatially co-variable clusters. In the study of pancreatic islet microenvironment, we demonstrated deep proteome mapping not only enables to identify protein markers specific to different cell types, but more importantly, it also reveals unknown or hidden protein patterns by spatial co-expression analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Kwon
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - Jongmin Woo
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - Fengchao Yu
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Sarah M. Williams
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - Lye Meng Markillie
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - Ronald J. Moore
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - Ernesto S. Nakayasu
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Martha Campbell-Thompson
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Clayton E. Mathews
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Alexey I. Nesvizhskii
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Wei-Jun Qia
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, United States
| | - Ying Zhu
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, Lipidomics and Next Generation Sequencing, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States
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108
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Zhong Z, Hou J, Yao Z, Dong L, Liu F, Yue J, Wu T, Zheng J, Ouyang G, Yang C, Song J. Domain generalization enables general cancer cell annotation in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1929. [PMID: 38431724 PMCID: PMC10908802 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46413-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Single-cell and spatial transcriptome sequencing, two recently optimized transcriptome sequencing methods, are increasingly used to study cancer and related diseases. Cell annotation, particularly for malignant cell annotation, is essential and crucial for in-depth analyses in these studies. However, current algorithms lack accuracy and generalization, making it difficult to consistently and rapidly infer malignant cells from pan-cancer data. To address this issue, we present Cancer-Finder, a domain generalization-based deep-learning algorithm that can rapidly identify malignant cells in single-cell data with an average accuracy of 95.16%. More importantly, by replacing the single-cell training data with spatial transcriptomic datasets, Cancer-Finder can accurately identify malignant spots on spatial slides. Applying Cancer-Finder to 5 clear cell renal cell carcinoma spatial transcriptomic samples, Cancer-Finder demonstrates a good ability to identify malignant spots and identifies a gene signature consisting of 10 genes that are significantly co-localized and enriched at the tumor-normal interface and have a strong correlation with the prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients. In conclusion, Cancer-Finder is an efficient and extensible tool for malignant cell annotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixing Zhong
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Junchen Hou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Zhixian Yao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Lei Dong
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Feng Liu
- School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - Junqiu Yue
- Department of Pathology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Tiantian Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Junhua Zheng
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Gaoliang Ouyang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
| | - Chaoyong Yang
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jia Song
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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109
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Kashima Y, Reteng P, Haga Y, Yamagishi J, Suzuki Y. Single-cell analytical technologies: uncovering the mechanisms behind variations in immune responses. FEBS J 2024; 291:819-831. [PMID: 36082537 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The immune landscape varies among individuals. It determines the immune response and results in surprisingly diverse symptoms, even in response to similar external stimuli. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying such diverse immune responses have remained mostly elusive. The utilization of recently developed single-cell multimodal analysis platforms has started to answer this question. Emerging studies have elucidated several molecular networks that may explain diversity with respect to age or other factors. An elaborate interplay between inherent physical conditions and environmental conditions has been demonstrated. Furthermore, the importance of modifications by the epigenome resulting in transcriptome variation among individuals is gradually being revealed. Accordingly, epigenomes and transcriptomes are direct indicators of the medical history and dynamic interactions with environmental factors. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has recently become one of the most remarkable examples of the necessity of in-depth analyses of diverse responses with respect to various factors to improve treatment in severe cases and to prevent viral transmission from asymptomatic carriers. In fact, determining why some patients develop serious symptoms is still a pressing issue. Here, we review the current "state of the art" in single-cell analytical technologies and their broad applications to healthy individuals and representative diseases, including COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukie Kashima
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Patrick Reteng
- Division of Collaboration and Education, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Haga
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Junya Yamagishi
- Division of Collaboration and Education, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
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110
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Li R, Chen X, Yang X. Navigating the landscapes of spatial transcriptomics: How computational methods guide the way. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1839. [PMID: 38527900 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Spatially resolved transcriptomics has been dramatically transforming biological and medical research in various fields. It enables transcriptome profiling at single-cell, multi-cellular, or sub-cellular resolution, while retaining the information of geometric localizations of cells in complex tissues. The coupling of cell spatial information and its molecular characteristics generates a novel multi-modal high-throughput data source, which poses new challenges for the development of analytical methods for data-mining. Spatial transcriptomic data are often highly complex, noisy, and biased, presenting a series of difficulties, many unresolved, for data analysis and generation of biological insights. In addition, to keep pace with the ever-evolving spatial transcriptomic experimental technologies, the existing analytical theories and tools need to be updated and reformed accordingly. In this review, we provide an overview and discussion of the current computational approaches for mining of spatial transcriptomics data. Future directions and perspectives of methodology design are proposed to stimulate further discussions and advances in new analytical models and algorithms. This article is categorized under: RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in Cells RNA Evolution and Genomics > Computational Analyses of RNA RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runze Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuerui Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic & Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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111
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Liu H, Zhang Y, Luo J. Contrastive learning-based histopathological features infer molecular subtypes and clinical outcomes of breast cancer from unannotated whole slide images. Comput Biol Med 2024; 170:107997. [PMID: 38271839 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.107997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The artificial intelligence-powered computational pathology has led to significant improvements in the speed and precision of tumor diagnosis, while also exhibiting substantial potential to infer genetic mutations and gene expression levels. However, current studies remain limited in predicting molecular subtypes and clinical outcomes in breast cancer. In this paper, we proposed a weakly supervised contrastive learning framework to address this challenge. Our framework first performed contrastive learning pretraining on a large number of unlabeled patches tiled from whole slide images (WSIs) to extract patch-level features. The gated attention mechanism was leveraged to aggregate patch-level features to produce slide feature that was then applied to various downstream tasks. To confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method, three public cohorts and one external independent cohort of breast cancer have been used to conducted evaluation experiments. The predictive powers of our model to infer gene expression, molecular subtypes, recurrence events and drug responses were validated across cohorts. In addition, the learned patch-level attention scores enabled us to generate heatmaps that were highly consistent with pathologist annotations and spatial transcriptomic data. These findings demonstrated that our model effectively established the high-order genotype-phenotype associations, thereby potentially extend the application of digital pathology in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Judong Luo
- Department of Radiotherapy, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China.
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112
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Pang JMB, Byrne DJ, Bergin ART, Caramia F, Loi S, Gorringe KL, Fox SB. Spatial transcriptomics and the anatomical pathologist: Molecular meets morphology. Histopathology 2024; 84:577-586. [PMID: 37991396 DOI: 10.1111/his.15093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
In recent years anatomical pathology has been revolutionised by the incorporation of molecular findings into routine diagnostic practice, and in some diseases the presence of specific molecular alterations are now essential for diagnosis. Spatial transcriptomics describes a group of technologies that provide up to transcriptome-wide expression profiling while preserving the spatial origin of the data, with many of these technologies able to provide these data using a single tissue section. Spatial transcriptomics allows expression profiling of highly specific areas within a tissue section potentially to subcellular resolution, and allows correlation of expression data with morphology, tissue type and location relative to other structures. While largely still research laboratory-based, several spatial transcriptomics methods have now achieved compatibility with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE), allowing their use in diagnostic tissue samples, and with further development potentially leading to their incorporation in routine anatomical pathology practice. This mini review provides an overview of spatial transcriptomics methods, with an emphasis on platforms compatible with FFPE tissue, approaches to assess the data and potential applications in anatomical pathology practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Min B Pang
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David J Byrne
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alice R T Bergin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Franco Caramia
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sherene Loi
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kylie L Gorringe
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen B Fox
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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113
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Yan K, Liu Q, Huang R, Jiang Y, Bian Z, Li S, Li L, Shen F, Tsuneyama K, Zhang Q, Lian Z, Guan H, Xu B. Spatial transcriptomics reveals prognosis-associated cellular heterogeneity in the papillary thyroid carcinoma microenvironment. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1594. [PMID: 38426403 PMCID: PMC10905537 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignant endocrine tumour, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing considerably. Cellular heterogeneity in the tumour microenvironment is important for PTC prognosis. Spatial transcriptomics is a powerful technique for cellular heterogeneity study. METHODS In conjunction with a clinical pathologist identification method, spatial transcriptomics was employed to characterise the spatial location and RNA profiles of PTC-associated cells within the tissue sections. The spatial RNA-clinical signature genes for each cell type were extracted and applied to outlining the distribution regions of specific cells on the entire section. The cellular heterogeneity of each cell type was further revealed by ContourPlot analysis, monocle analysis, trajectory analysis, ligand-receptor analysis and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis. RESULTS The spatial distribution region of tumour cells, typical and atypical follicular cells (FCs and AFCs) and immune cells were accurately and comprehensively identified in all five PTC tissue sections. AFCs were identified as a transitional state between FCs and tumour cells, exhibiting a higher resemblance to the latter. Three tumour foci were shared among all patients out of the 13 observed. Notably, tumour foci No. 2 displayed elevated expression levels of genes associated with lower relapse-free survival in PTC patients. We discovered key ligand-receptor interactions, including LAMB3-ITGA2, FN1-ITGA3 and FN1-SDC4, involved in the transition of PTC cells from FCs to AFCs and eventually to tumour cells. High expression of these patterns correlated with reduced relapse-free survival. In the tumour immune microenvironment, reduced interaction between myeloid-derived TGFB1 and TGFBR1 in tumour focus No. 2 contributed to tumourigenesis and increased heterogeneity. The spatial RNA-clinical analysis method developed here revealed prognosis-associated cellular heterogeneity in the PTC microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of tumour foci No. 2 and three enhanced ligand-receptor interactions in the AFC area/tumour foci reduced the relapse-free survival of PTC patients, potentially leading to improved prognostic strategies and targeted therapies for PTC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Yan
- Guangdong Cardiovascular InstituteGuangdong Provincial People's HospitalGuangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Qing‐Zhi Liu
- Chronic Disease LaboratoryInstitutes for Life SciencesSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
| | - Rong‐Rong Huang
- Guangdong Cardiovascular InstituteGuangdong Provincial People's HospitalGuangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Yi‐Hua Jiang
- Guangdong Cardiovascular InstituteGuangdong Provincial People's HospitalGuangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Image Analysis and ApplicationGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhen‐Hua Bian
- School of Biomedical Sciences and EngineeringSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhou International CampusGuangzhouChina
| | - Si‐Jin Li
- Department of Thyroid SurgeryGuangzhou First People's HospitalSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
| | - Liang Li
- Medical Research InstituteGuangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences)Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Fei Shen
- Department of Thyroid SurgeryGuangzhou First People's HospitalSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineInstitute of Biomedical SciencesTokushima University Graduate SchoolTokushimaJapan
| | - Qing‐Ling Zhang
- Department of PathologyGuangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences)Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhe‐Xiong Lian
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences)Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Haixia Guan
- Department of EndocrinologyGuangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences)Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Bo Xu
- Department of Thyroid SurgeryGuangzhou First People's HospitalSouth China University of TechnologyGuangzhouChina
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114
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Lin A, Ramaswamy Y, Misra A. Developmental heterogeneity of vascular cells: Insights into cellular plasticity in atherosclerosis? Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 155:3-15. [PMID: 37316416 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and macrophages display remarkable heterogeneity within the healthy vasculature and under pathological conditions. During development, these cells arise from numerous embryological origins, which confound with different microenvironments to generate postnatal vascular cell diversity. In the atherosclerotic plaque milieu, all these cell types exhibit astonishing plasticity, generating a variety of plaque burdening or plaque stabilizing phenotypes. And yet how developmental origin influences intraplaque cell plasticity remains largely unexplored despite evidence suggesting this may be the case. Uncovering the diversity and plasticity of vascular cells is being revolutionized by unbiased single cell whole transcriptome analysis techniques that will likely continue to pave the way for therapeutic research. Cellular plasticity is only just emerging as a target for future therapeutics, and uncovering how intraplaque plasticity differs across vascular beds may provide key insights into why different plaques behave differently and may confer different risks of subsequent cardiovascular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Lin
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yogambha Ramaswamy
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ashish Misra
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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115
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Bemark M, Pitcher MJ, Dionisi C, Spencer J. Gut-associated lymphoid tissue: a microbiota-driven hub of B cell immunity. Trends Immunol 2024; 45:211-223. [PMID: 38402045 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
The diverse gut microbiota, which is associated with mucosal health and general wellbeing, maintains gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) in a chronically activated state, including sustainment of germinal centers in a context of high antigenic load. This influences the rules for B cell engagement with antigen and the potential consequences. Recent data have highlighted differences between GALT and other lymphoid tissues. For example, GALT propagates IgA responses against glycans that show signs of having been generated in germinal centers. Other findings suggest that humans are among those species where GALT supports the diversification, propagation, and possibly selection of systemic B cells. Here, we review novel findings that identify GALT as distinctive, and able to support these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mats Bemark
- Department of Translational Medicine - Human Immunology, Lund University, J Waldenströms gata 35, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Michael J Pitcher
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus, St Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Chiara Dionisi
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus, St Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Jo Spencer
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital Campus, St Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT, UK.
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116
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Schäfer PSL, Dimitrov D, Villablanca EJ, Saez-Rodriguez J. Integrating single-cell multi-omics and prior biological knowledge for a functional characterization of the immune system. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:405-417. [PMID: 38413722 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01768-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The immune system comprises diverse specialized cell types that cooperate to defend the host against a wide range of pathogenic threats. Recent advancements in single-cell and spatial multi-omics technologies provide rich information about the molecular state of immune cells. Here, we review how the integration of single-cell and spatial multi-omics data with prior knowledge-gathered from decades of detailed biochemical studies-allows us to obtain functional insights, focusing on gene regulatory processes and cell-cell interactions. We present diverse applications in immunology and critically assess underlying assumptions and limitations. Finally, we offer a perspective on the ongoing technological and algorithmic developments that promise to get us closer to a systemic mechanistic understanding of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Sven Lars Schäfer
- Institute for Computational Bioscience, Faculty of Medicine and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Dimitrov
- Institute for Computational Bioscience, Faculty of Medicine and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eduardo J Villablanca
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julio Saez-Rodriguez
- Institute for Computational Bioscience, Faculty of Medicine and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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117
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Jogi HR, Smaraki N, Nayak SS, Rajawat D, Kamothi DJ, Panigrahi M. Single cell RNA-seq: a novel tool to unravel virus-host interplay. Virusdisease 2024; 35:41-54. [PMID: 38817399 PMCID: PMC11133279 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-024-00859-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has caught the momentum of being a vital revolutionary tool to unfold cellular heterogeneity by high resolution assessment. It evades the inadequacies of conventional sequencing technology which was able to detect only average expression level among cell populations. In the era of twenty-first century, several epidemic and pandemic viruses have emerged. Being an intracellular entity, viruses totally rely on host. Complex virus-host dynamics result when the virus tend to obtain factors from host cell required for its replication and establishment of infection. As a prevailing tool, scRNA-seq is able to understand virus-host interplay by comprehensive transcriptome profiling. Because of technological and methodological advancement, this technology is capable to recognize viral genome and host cell response heterogeneity. Further development in analytical methods with multiomics approach and increased availability of accessible scRNA-seq datasets will improve the understanding of viral pathogenesis that can be helpful for development of novel antiviral therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh Rajeshbhai Jogi
- Division of Veterinary Microbiology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP 243122 India
| | - Nabaneeta Smaraki
- Division of Veterinary Microbiology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP 243122 India
| | - Sonali Sonejita Nayak
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP 243122 India
| | - Divya Rajawat
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP 243122 India
| | - Dhaval J. Kamothi
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP 243122 India
| | - Manjit Panigrahi
- Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP 243122 India
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118
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Macdonald JK, Mehta AS, Drake RR, Angel PM. Molecular analysis of the extracellular microenvironment: from form to function. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:602-620. [PMID: 38509768 PMCID: PMC11049795 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) proteome represents an important component of the tissue microenvironment that controls chemical flux and induces cell signaling through encoded structure. The analysis of the ECM represents an analytical challenge through high levels of post-translational modifications, protease-resistant structures, and crosslinked, insoluble proteins. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the analytical challenges involved in addressing the complexities of spatially profiling the extracellular matrix proteome. A synopsis of the process of synthesizing the ECM structure, detailing inherent chemical complexity, is included to present the scope of the analytical challenge. Current chromatographic and spatial techniques addressing these challenges are detailed. Capabilities for multimodal multiplexing with cellular populations are discussed with a perspective on developing a holistic view of disease processes that includes both the cellular and extracellular microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade K Macdonald
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Anand S Mehta
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Richard R Drake
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Peggi M. Angel
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
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119
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Kaur H, Jha P, Ochatt SJ, Kumar V. Single-cell transcriptomics is revolutionizing the improvement of plant biotechnology research: recent advances and future opportunities. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024; 44:202-217. [PMID: 36775666 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2023.2165900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell approaches are a promising way to obtain high-resolution transcriptomics data and have the potential to revolutionize the study of plant growth and development. Recent years have seen the advent of unprecedented technological advances in the field of plant biology to study the transcriptional information of individual cells by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). This review focuses on the modern advancements of single-cell transcriptomics in plants over the past few years. In addition, it also offers a new insight of how these emerging methods will expedite advance research in plant biotechnology in the near future. Lastly, the various technological hurdles and inherent limitations of single-cell technology that need to be conquered to develop such outstanding possible knowledge gain is critically analyzed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harmeet Kaur
- Division of Research and Development, Plant Biotechnology Lab, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Faculty of Technology and Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Priyanka Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Faculty of Technology and Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
- Department of Research Facilitation, Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Sergio J Ochatt
- Agroécologie, InstitutAgro Dijon, INRAE, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Division of Research and Development, Plant Biotechnology Lab, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Faculty of Technology and Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
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120
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Lin S, Zhao F, Wu Z, Yao J, Zhao Y, Yuan Z. Streamlining spatial omics data analysis with Pysodb. Nat Protoc 2024; 19:831-895. [PMID: 38135744 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00925-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Advances in spatial omics technologies have improved the understanding of cellular organization in tissues, leading to the generation of complex and heterogeneous data and prompting the development of specialized tools for managing, loading and visualizing spatial omics data. The Spatial Omics Database (SODB) was established to offer a unified format for data storage and interactive visualization modules. Here we detail the use of Pysodb, a Python-based tool designed to enable the efficient exploration and loading of spatial datasets from SODB within a Python environment. We present seven case studies using Pysodb, detailing the interaction with various computational methods, ensuring reproducibility of experimental data and facilitating the integration of new data and alternative applications in SODB. The approach offers a reference for method developers by outlining label and metadata availability in representative spatial data that can be loaded by Pysodb. The tool is supplemented by a website ( https://protocols-pysodb.readthedocs.io/ ) with detailed information for benchmarking analysis, and allows method developers to focus on computational models by facilitating data processing. This protocol is designed for researchers with limited experience in computational biology. Depending on the dataset complexity, the protocol typically requires ~12 h to complete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senlin Lin
- Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fangyuan Zhao
- Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Yi Zhao
- Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhiyuan Yuan
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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121
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Kuppe C, Kramann R. A spatially resolved atlas of healthy and injured kidney cell states. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2024; 39:379-381. [PMID: 37708037 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfad203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Kuppe
- Department of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Medical Faculty, Aachen, Germany
| | - Rafael Kramann
- Department of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Medical Faculty, Aachen, Germany
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122
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Kojima Y, Mii S, Hayashi S, Hirose H, Ishikawa M, Akiyama M, Enomoto A, Shimamura T. Single-cell colocalization analysis using a deep generative model. Cell Syst 2024; 15:180-192.e7. [PMID: 38387441 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Analyzing colocalization of single cells with heterogeneous molecular phenotypes is essential for understanding cell-cell interactions, and cellular responses to external stimuli and their biological functions in diseases and tissues. However, existing computational methodologies identified the colocalization patterns between predefined cell populations, which can obscure the molecular signatures arising from intercellular communication. Here, we introduce DeepCOLOR, a computational framework based on a deep generative model that recovers intercellular colocalization networks with single-cell resolution by the integration of single-cell and spatial transcriptomes. Along with colocalized population detection accuracy that is superior to existing methods in simulated dataset, DeepCOLOR identified plausible cell-cell interaction candidates between colocalized single cells and segregated cell populations defined by the colocalization relationships in mouse brain tissues, human squamous cell carcinoma samples, and human lung tissues infected with SARS-CoV-2. DeepCOLOR is applicable to studying cell-cell interactions behind various spatial niches. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Kojima
- Laboratory of Computational Life Science, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan; Department of Computational and Systems Biology, Medical Research Insitute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034, Japan; Division of Systems Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
| | - Shinji Mii
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Shuto Hayashi
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, Medical Research Insitute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034, Japan; Division of Systems Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Haruka Hirose
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, Medical Research Insitute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034, Japan; Division of Systems Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Masato Ishikawa
- Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
| | - Masashi Akiyama
- Department of Dermatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Atsushi Enomoto
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Teppei Shimamura
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, Medical Research Insitute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034, Japan; Division of Systems Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
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123
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Ali M, Yang T, He H, Zhang Y. Plant biotechnology research with single-cell transcriptome: recent advancements and prospects. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2024; 43:75. [PMID: 38381195 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-024-03168-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Single-cell transcriptomic techniques have emerged as powerful tools in plant biology, offering high-resolution insights into gene expression at the individual cell level. This review highlights the rapid expansion of single-cell technologies in plants, their potential in understanding plant development, and their role in advancing plant biotechnology research. Single-cell techniques have emerged as powerful tools to enhance our understanding of biological systems, providing high-resolution transcriptomic analysis at the single-cell level. In plant biology, the adoption of single-cell transcriptomics has seen rapid expansion of available technologies and applications. This review article focuses on the latest advancements in the field of single-cell transcriptomic in plants and discusses the potential role of these approaches in plant development and expediting plant biotechnology research in the near future. Furthermore, inherent challenges and limitations of single-cell technology are critically examined to overcome them and enhance our knowledge and understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
- Peking University-Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, China
| | - Tianxia Yang
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
- State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-breeding, National Maize Improvement Center, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE), China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hai He
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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124
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Wolstenholme AJ, Andersen EC, Choudhary S, Ebner F, Hartmann S, Holden-Dye L, Kashyap SS, Krücken J, Martin RJ, Midha A, Nejsum P, Neveu C, Robertson AP, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Walker R, Wang J, Whitehead BJ, Williams PDE. Getting around the roundworms: Identifying knowledge gaps and research priorities for the ascarids. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2024; 123:51-123. [PMID: 38448148 PMCID: PMC11143470 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The ascarids are a large group of parasitic nematodes that infect a wide range of animal species. In humans, they cause neglected diseases of poverty; many animal parasites also cause zoonotic infections in people. Control measures include hygiene and anthelmintic treatments, but they are not always appropriate or effective and this creates a continuing need to search for better ways to reduce the human, welfare and economic costs of these infections. To this end, Le Studium Institute of Advanced Studies organized a two-day conference to identify major gaps in our understanding of ascarid parasites with a view to setting research priorities that would allow for improved control. The participants identified several key areas for future focus, comprising of advances in genomic analysis and the use of model organisms, especially Caenorhabditis elegans, a more thorough appreciation of the complexity of host-parasite (and parasite-parasite) communications, a search for novel anthelmintic drugs and the development of effective vaccines. The participants agreed to try and maintain informal links in the future that could form the basis for collaborative projects, and to co-operate to organize future meetings and workshops to promote ascarid research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian J Wolstenholme
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), Université de Tours, ISP, Nouzilly, France.
| | - Erik C Andersen
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Shivani Choudhary
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Friederike Ebner
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Institute for Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lindy Holden-Dye
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sudhanva S Kashyap
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard J Martin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Ankur Midha
- Institute for Immunology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Nejsum
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Cedric Neveu
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), Université de Tours, ISP, Nouzilly, France
| | - Alan P Robertson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | | | - Robert Walker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jianbin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | | | - Paul D E Williams
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
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125
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Zhang C, Kang Q, Li M, Xie H, Fang S, Xu X. BatchEval Pipeline: batch effect evaluation workflow for multiple datasets joint analysis. GIGABYTE 2024; 2024:gigabyte108. [PMID: 38434931 PMCID: PMC10905258 DOI: 10.46471/gigabyte.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
As genomic sequencing technology continues to advance, it becomes increasingly important to perform joint analyses of multiple datasets of transcriptomics. However, batch effect presents challenges for dataset integration, such as sequencing data measured on different platforms, and datasets collected at different times. Here, we report the development of BatchEval Pipeline, a batch effect workflow used to evaluate batch effect on dataset integration. The BatchEval Pipeline generates a comprehensive report, which consists of a series of HTML pages for assessment findings, including a main page, a raw dataset evaluation page, and several built-in methods evaluation pages. The main page exhibits basic information of the integrated datasets, a comprehensive score of batch effect, and the most recommended method for removing batch effect from the current datasets. The remaining pages exhibit evaluation details for the raw dataset, and evaluation results from the built-in batch effect removal methods after removing batch effect. This comprehensive report enables researchers to accurately identify and remove batch effects, resulting in more reliable and meaningful biological insights from integrated datasets. In summary, the BatchEval Pipeline represents a significant advancement in batch effect evaluation, and is a valuable tool to improve the accuracy and reliability of the experimental results. Availability & Implementation The source code of the BatchEval Pipeline is available at https://github.com/STOmics/BatchEval.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mei Li
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518103, China
| | | | - Shuangsang Fang
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518103, China
- BGI Research, Beijing, 102601, China
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI Research, Wuhan, 430074, China
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126
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Hu S, Hang X, Wei Y, Wang H, Zhang L, Zhao L. Crosstalk among podocytes, glomerular endothelial cells and mesangial cells in diabetic kidney disease: an updated review. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:136. [PMID: 38374141 PMCID: PMC10875896 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01502-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a long-term and serious complication of diabetes that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by proteinuria, glomerular damage, and renal fibrosis, leading to end-stage renal disease, and the pathogenesis is complex and involves multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms. Among three kinds of intraglomerular cells including podocytes, glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) and mesangial cells (MCs), the alterations in one cell type can produce changes in the others. The cell-to-cell crosstalk plays a crucial role in maintaining the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) and homeostasis. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in understanding the pathological changes and interactions of these three types of cells in DKD and then focused on the signaling pathways and factors that mediate the crosstalk, such as angiopoietins, vascular endothelial growth factors, transforming growth factor-β, Krüppel-like factors, retinoic acid receptor response protein 1 and exosomes, etc. Furthermore, we also simply introduce the application of the latest technologies in studying cell interactions within glomerular cells and new promising mediators for cell crosstalk in DKD. In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive and updated overview of the glomerular crosstalk in DKD and highlights its importance for the development of novel intervention approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwan Hu
- Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang' anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xing Hang
- Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang' anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yu Wei
- Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang' anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Han Wang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Lili Zhang
- Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang' anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China.
| | - Linhua Zhao
- Institute of Metabolic Diseases, Guang' anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China.
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127
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Vingan I, Phatarpekar S, Tung VSK, Hernández AI, Evgrafov OV, Alarcon JM. Spatially Resolved Transcriptomic Signatures of Hippocampal Subregions and Arc-Expressing Ensembles in Active Place Avoidance Memory. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.30.573225. [PMID: 38260257 PMCID: PMC10802250 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.30.573225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The rodent hippocampus is a spatially organized neuronal network that supports the formation of spatial and episodic memories. We conducted bulk RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics experiments to measure gene expression changes in the dorsal hippocampus following the recall of active place avoidance (APA) memory. Through bulk RNA sequencing, we examined the gene expression changes following memory recall across the functionally distinct subregions of the dorsal hippocampus. We found that recall induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the CA1 and CA3 hippocampal subregions were enriched with genes involved in synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity, while DEGs in the dentate gyrus (DG) were enriched with genes involved in energy balance and ribosomal function. Through spatial transcriptomics, we examined gene expression changes following memory recall across an array of spots encompassing putative memory-associated neuronal ensembles marked by the expression of the IEGs Arc, Egr1, and c-Jun. Within samples from both trained and untrained mice, the subpopulations of spatial transcriptomic spots marked by these IEGs were transcriptomically and spatially distinct from one another. DEGs detected between Arc+ and Arc- spots exclusively in the trained mouse were enriched in several memory-related gene ontology terms, including "regulation of synaptic plasticity" and "memory." Our results suggest that APA memory recall is supported by regionalized transcriptomic profiles separating the CA1 and CA3 from the DG, transcriptionally and spatially distinct IEG expressing spatial transcriptomic spots, and biological processes related to synaptic plasticity as a defining the difference between Arc+ and Arc- spatial transcriptomic spots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Vingan
- School of Graduates Studies, Program in Neural and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Shwetha Phatarpekar
- Institute of Genomics in Health, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Victoria Sook Keng Tung
- School of Graduates Studies, Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - A Iván Hernández
- School of Graduates Studies, Program in Neural and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- The Robert F. Furchgott Center for Neural & Behavioral Science, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Oleg V Evgrafov
- Institute of Genomics in Health, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- School of Graduates Studies, Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Juan Marcos Alarcon
- School of Graduates Studies, Program in Neural and Behavioral Sciences, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- The Robert F. Furchgott Center for Neural & Behavioral Science, State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
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128
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Coussement L, Van Criekinge W, De Meyer T. Quantitative transcriptomic and epigenomic data analysis: a primer. BIOINFORMATICS ADVANCES 2024; 4:vbae019. [PMID: 38586118 PMCID: PMC10997052 DOI: 10.1093/bioadv/vbae019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The advent of microarray and second generation sequencing technology has revolutionized the field of molecular biology, allowing researchers to quantitatively assess transcriptomic and epigenomic features in a comprehensive and cost-efficient manner. Moreover, technical advancements have pushed the resolution of these sequencing techniques to the single cell level. As a result, the bottleneck of molecular biology research has shifted from the bench to the subsequent omics data analysis. Even though most methodologies share the same general strategy, state-of-the-art literature typically focuses on data type specific approaches and already assumes expert knowledge. Here, however, we aim at providing conceptual insight in the principles of genome-wide quantitative transcriptomic and epigenomic (including open chromatin assay) data analysis by describing a generic workflow. By starting from a general framework and its assumptions, the need for alternative or additional data-analytical solutions when working with specific data types becomes clear, and are hence introduced. Thus, we aim to enable readers with basic omics expertise to deepen their conceptual and statistical understanding of general strategies and pitfalls in omics data analysis and to facilitate subsequent progression to more specialized literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Coussement
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Wim Van Criekinge
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Tim De Meyer
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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129
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Laubscher E, Wang X(J, Razin N, Dougherty T, Xu RJ, Ombelets L, Pao E, Graf W, Moffitt JR, Yue Y, Van Valen D. Accurate single-molecule spot detection for image-based spatial transcriptomics with weakly supervised deep learning. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.03.556122. [PMID: 37732188 PMCID: PMC10508757 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.03.556122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Image-based spatial transcriptomics methods enable transcriptome-scale gene expression measurements with spatial information but require complex, manually-tuned analysis pipelines. We present Polaris, an analysis pipeline for image-based spatial transcriptomics that combines deep learning models for cell segmentation and spot detection with a probabilistic gene decoder to quantify single-cell gene expression accurately. Polaris offers a unifying, turnkey solution for analyzing spatial transcriptomics data from MERFSIH, seqFISH, or ISS experiments. Polaris is available through the DeepCell software library (https://github.com/vanvalenlab/deepcell-spots) and https://www.deepcell.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Laubscher
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
| | | | - Nitzan Razin
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
| | - Tom Dougherty
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
| | - Rosalind J. Xu
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston MA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
| | - Lincoln Ombelets
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
| | - Edward Pao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
| | - William Graf
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
| | - Jeffrey R. Moffitt
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston MA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA
| | - Yisong Yue
- Division of Computational and Mathematical Sciences, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
| | - David Van Valen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD
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130
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Fan X, Sun AR, Young RSE, Afara IO, Hamilton BR, Ong LJY, Crawford R, Prasadam I. Spatial analysis of the osteoarthritis microenvironment: techniques, insights, and applications. Bone Res 2024; 12:7. [PMID: 38311627 PMCID: PMC10838951 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-023-00304-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating degenerative disease affecting multiple joint tissues, including cartilage, bone, synovium, and adipose tissues. OA presents diverse clinical phenotypes and distinct molecular endotypes, including inflammatory, metabolic, mechanical, genetic, and synovial variants. Consequently, innovative technologies are needed to support the development of effective diagnostic and precision therapeutic approaches. Traditional analysis of bulk OA tissue extracts has limitations due to technical constraints, causing challenges in the differentiation between various physiological and pathological phenotypes in joint tissues. This issue has led to standardization difficulties and hindered the success of clinical trials. Gaining insights into the spatial variations of the cellular and molecular structures in OA tissues, encompassing DNA, RNA, metabolites, and proteins, as well as their chemical properties, elemental composition, and mechanical attributes, can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the disease subtypes. Spatially resolved biology enables biologists to investigate cells within the context of their tissue microenvironment, providing a more holistic view of cellular function. Recent advances in innovative spatial biology techniques now allow intact tissue sections to be examined using various -omics lenses, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, with spatial data. This fusion of approaches provides researchers with critical insights into the molecular composition and functions of the cells and tissues at precise spatial coordinates. Furthermore, advanced imaging techniques, including high-resolution microscopy, hyperspectral imaging, and mass spectrometry imaging, enable the visualization and analysis of the spatial distribution of biomolecules, cells, and tissues. Linking these molecular imaging outputs to conventional tissue histology can facilitate a more comprehensive characterization of disease phenotypes. This review summarizes the recent advancements in the molecular imaging modalities and methodologies for in-depth spatial analysis. It explores their applications, challenges, and potential opportunities in the field of OA. Additionally, this review provides a perspective on the potential research directions for these contemporary approaches that can meet the requirements of clinical diagnoses and the establishment of therapeutic targets for OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiwei Fan
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Mechanical, Medical & Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Antonia Rujia Sun
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Mechanical, Medical & Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Reuben S E Young
- Central Analytical Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Isaac O Afara
- Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Brett R Hamilton
- Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Louis Jun Ye Ong
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Mechanical, Medical & Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ross Crawford
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Indira Prasadam
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- School of Mechanical, Medical & Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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131
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Liao Y. Emerging tools for uncovering genetic and transcriptomic heterogeneities in bacteria. Biophys Rev 2024; 16:109-124. [PMID: 38495445 PMCID: PMC10937887 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01178-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial communities display an astonishing degree of heterogeneities among their constituent cells across both the genomic and transcriptomic levels, giving rise to diverse social interactions and stress-adaptation strategies indispensable for proliferating in the natural environment (Ackermann in Nat Rev Microbiol 13:497-508, 2015). Our knowledge about bacterial heterogeneities and their physiological ramifications critically depends on our ability to unambiguously resolve the genetic and phenotypic states of the individual cells that make up the population. In this short review, I highlight several recently developed methods for studying bacterial heterogeneities, primarily focusing on single-cell techniques based on advanced sequencing and microscopy technologies. I will discuss the working principle of each technique as well as the types of problems each technique is best positioned to address. With significant improvements in resolution and throughput, these emerging tools together offer unprecedented and complementary views of various types of heterogeneities found within bacterial populations, paving the way for mechanistic dissections and systematic interventions in laboratory and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liao
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
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132
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Hu Y, Rong J, Xu Y, Xie R, Peng J, Gao L, Tan K. Unsupervised and supervised discovery of tissue cellular neighborhoods from cell phenotypes. Nat Methods 2024; 21:267-278. [PMID: 38191930 PMCID: PMC10864185 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02124-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
It is poorly understood how different cells in a tissue organize themselves to support tissue functions. We describe the CytoCommunity algorithm for the identification of tissue cellular neighborhoods (TCNs) based on cell phenotypes and their spatial distributions. CytoCommunity learns a mapping directly from the cell phenotype space to the TCN space using a graph neural network model without intermediate clustering of cell embeddings. By leveraging graph pooling, CytoCommunity enables de novo identification of condition-specific and predictive TCNs under the supervision of sample labels. Using several types of spatial omics data, we demonstrate that CytoCommunity can identify TCNs of variable sizes with substantial improvement over existing methods. By analyzing risk-stratified colorectal and breast cancer data, CytoCommunity revealed new granulocyte-enriched and cancer-associated fibroblast-enriched TCNs specific to high-risk tumors and altered interactions between neoplastic and immune or stromal cells within and between TCNs. CytoCommunity can perform unsupervised and supervised analyses of spatial omics maps and enable the discovery of condition-specific cell-cell communication patterns across spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Hu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Jiazhen Rong
- Graduate Group in Genomics and Computational Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yafei Xu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Runzhi Xie
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jacqueline Peng
- Graduate Group in Genomics and Computational Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lin Gao
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kai Tan
- Division of Oncology and Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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133
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Cai P, Robinson MD, Tiberi S. DESpace: spatially variable gene detection via differential expression testing of spatial clusters. Bioinformatics 2024; 40:btae027. [PMID: 38243704 PMCID: PMC10868334 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) enables scientists to investigate spatial context of mRNA abundance, including identifying spatially variable genes (SVGs), i.e. genes whose expression varies across the tissue. Although several methods have been proposed for this task, native SVG tools cannot jointly model biological replicates, or identify the key areas of the tissue affected by spatial variability. RESULTS Here, we introduce DESpace, a framework, based on an original application of existing methods, to discover SVGs. In particular, our approach inputs all types of SRT data, summarizes spatial information via spatial clusters, and identifies spatially variable genes by performing differential gene expression testing between clusters. Furthermore, our framework can identify (and test) the main cluster of the tissue affected by spatial variability; this allows scientists to investigate spatial expression changes in specific areas of interest. Additionally, DESpace enables joint modeling of multiple samples (i.e. biological replicates); compared to inference based on individual samples, this approach increases statistical power, and targets SVGs with consistent spatial patterns across replicates. Overall, in our benchmarks, DESpace displays good true positive rates, controls for false positive and false discovery rates, and is computationally efficient. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION DESpace is freely distributed as a Bioconductor R package at https://bioconductor.org/packages/DESpace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiying Cai
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Mark D Robinson
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Simone Tiberi
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
- Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
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134
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Yan S, Guo Y, Lin L, Zhang W. Breaks for Precision Medicine in Cancer: Development and Prospects of Spatiotemporal Transcriptomics. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2024; 39:35-45. [PMID: 38181185 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2023.0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
With the development of the social economy and the deepening understanding of cancer, cancer has become a significant cause of death, threatening human health. Although researchers have made rapid progress in cancer treatment strategies in recent years, the overall survival of cancer patients is still not optimistic. Therefore, it is essential to reveal the spatial pattern of gene expression, spatial heterogeneity of cell populations, microenvironment interactions, and other aspects of cancer. Spatiotemporal transcriptomics can help analyze the mechanism of cancer occurrence and development, greatly help precise cancer treatment, and improve clinical prognosis. Here, we review the integration strategies of single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics data, summarize the recent advances in spatiotemporal transcriptomics in cancer studies, and discuss the combined application of spatial multiomics, which provides new directions and strategies for the precise treatment and clinical prognosis of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Yan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yilin Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lizhong Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Changde City, Changde, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenling Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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135
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Wu K, Bu F, Wu Y, Zhang G, Wang X, He S, Liu MF, Chen R, Yuan H. Exploring noncoding variants in genetic diseases: from detection to functional insights. J Genet Genomics 2024; 51:111-132. [PMID: 38181897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies on genetic diseases predominantly focused on protein-coding variations, overlooking the vast noncoding regions in the human genome. The development of high-throughput sequencing technologies and functional genomics tools has enabled the systematic identification of functional noncoding variants. These variants can impact gene expression, regulation, and chromatin conformation, thereby contributing to disease pathogenesis. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie the impact of noncoding variants on genetic diseases is indispensable for the development of precisely targeted therapies and the implementation of personalized medicine strategies. The intricacies of noncoding regions introduce a multitude of challenges and research opportunities. In this review, we introduce a spectrum of noncoding variants involved in genetic diseases, along with research strategies and advanced technologies for their precise identification and in-depth understanding of the complexity of the noncoding genome. We will delve into the research challenges and propose potential solutions for unraveling the genetic basis of rare and complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Wu
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Fengxiao Bu
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Gen Zhang
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Shunmin He
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Center for Big Data Research in Health, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mo-Fang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Runsheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Center for Big Data Research in Health, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Huijun Yuan
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
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136
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Tu C, Kulasinghe A, Barbour A, Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes F. Leveraging spatial omics for the development of precision sarcoma treatments. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:134-144. [PMID: 38212196 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous cancers that arise from bone or soft tissue, and are the second most prevalent solid cancer in children and adolescents. Owing to the complex nature of pediatric sarcomas, the development of therapeutics for pediatric sarcoma has seen little progress in the past decades. Existing treatments are largely limited to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Limited knowledge of the sarcoma tumor microenvironment (TME) and of well-defined target antigens in the different subtypes necessitates an alternative investigative approach to improve treatments. Recent advances in spatial omics technologies have enabled a more comprehensive study of the TME in multiple cancers. In this opinion article we discuss advances in our understanding of the TME of some cancers enabled by spatial omics technologies, and we explore how these technologies might advance the development of precision treatments for sarcoma, especially pediatric sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Tu
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Andrew Barbour
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; Department of Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
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137
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Ye F, Wang J, Li J, Mei Y, Guo G. Mapping Cell Atlases at the Single-Cell Level. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305449. [PMID: 38145338 PMCID: PMC10885669 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Recent advancements in single-cell technologies have led to rapid developments in the construction of cell atlases. These atlases have the potential to provide detailed information about every cell type in different organisms, enabling the characterization of cellular diversity at the single-cell level. Global efforts in developing comprehensive cell atlases have profound implications for both basic research and clinical applications. This review provides a broad overview of the cellular diversity and dynamics across various biological systems. In addition, the incorporation of machine learning techniques into cell atlas analyses opens up exciting prospects for the field of integrative biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Ye
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
- Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
- Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
| | - Yuqing Mei
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
| | - Guoji Guo
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
- Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang311121China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineDr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310058China
- Institute of HematologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310000China
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138
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Bawa G, Liu Z, Yu X, Tran LSP, Sun X. Introducing single cell stereo-sequencing technology to transform the plant transcriptome landscape. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 29:249-265. [PMID: 37914553 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) advancements have helped detect transcriptional heterogeneities in biological samples. However, scRNA-seq cannot currently provide high-resolution spatial transcriptome information or identify subcellular organs in biological samples. These limitations have led to the development of spatially enhanced-resolution omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq), which combines spatial information with single cell transcriptomics to address the challenges of scRNA-seq alone. In this review, we discuss the advantages of Stereo-seq technology. We anticipate that the application of such an integrated approach in plant research will advance our understanding of biological process in the plant transcriptomics era. We conclude with an outlook of how such integration will enhance crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Bawa
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, PR China
| | - Zhixin Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, PR China
| | - Xiaole Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, PR China
| | - Lam-Son Phan Tran
- Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA.
| | - Xuwu Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, 85 Minglun Street, Kaifeng 475001, PR China.
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139
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Camunas-Soler J. Integrating single-cell transcriptomics with cellular phenotypes: cell morphology, Ca 2+ imaging and electrophysiology. Biophys Rev 2024; 16:89-107. [PMID: 38495444 PMCID: PMC10937895 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01174-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
I review recent technological advancements in coupling single-cell transcriptomics with cellular phenotypes including morphology, calcium signaling, and electrophysiology. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) has revolutionized cell type classifications by capturing the transcriptional diversity of cells. A new wave of methods to integrate scRNAseq and biophysical measurements is facilitating the linkage of transcriptomic data to cellular function, which provides physiological insight into cellular states. I briefly discuss critical factors of these phenotypical characterizations such as timescales, information content, and analytical tools. Dedicated sections focus on the integration with cell morphology, calcium imaging, and electrophysiology (patch-seq), emphasizing their complementary roles. I discuss their application in elucidating cellular states, refining cell type classifications, and uncovering functional differences in cell subtypes. To illustrate the practical applications and benefits of these methods, I highlight their use in tissues with excitable cell-types such as the brain, pancreatic islets, and the retina. The potential of combining functional phenotyping with spatial transcriptomics for a detailed mapping of cell phenotypes in situ is explored. Finally, I discuss open questions and future perspectives, emphasizing the need for a shift towards broader accessibility through increased throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Camunas-Soler
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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140
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Bjørgen H, Malik S, Rimstad E, Vaadal M, Nyman IB, Koppang EO, Tengs T. Cellular heterogeneity in red and melanized focal muscle changes in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) visualized by spatial transcriptomics. Cell Tissue Res 2024; 395:199-210. [PMID: 38087072 PMCID: PMC10837230 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-023-03850-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023]
Abstract
Spatial transcriptomics is a technique that provides insight into gene expression profiles in tissue sections while retaining structural information. We have employed this method to study the pathological conditions related to red and melanized focal changes in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Our findings support a model where similar molecular mechanisms are involved in both red and melanized filet discolorations and genes associated with several relevant pathways show distinct expression patterns in both sample types. Interestingly, there appears to be significant cellular heterogeneity in the foci investigated when looking at gene expression patterns. Some of the genes that show differential spatial expression are involved in cellular processes such as hypoxia and immune responses, providing new insight into the nature of muscle melanization in Atlantic salmon.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Bjørgen
- Unit of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - S Malik
- Department of Breeding and Genetics, Nofima, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - E Rimstad
- Unit of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - M Vaadal
- Department of Breeding and Genetics, Nofima, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - I B Nyman
- Unit of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - E O Koppang
- Unit of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Ås, Norway
| | - T Tengs
- Department of Breeding and Genetics, Nofima, 1433, Ås, Norway.
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141
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Kean-Galeno T, Lopez-Arredondo D, Herrera-Estrella L. The Shoot Apical Meristem: An Evolutionary Molding of Higher Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1519. [PMID: 38338798 PMCID: PMC10855264 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The shoot apical meristem (SAM) gives rise to the aerial structure of plants by producing lateral organs and other meristems. The SAM is responsible for plant developmental patterns, thus determining plant morphology and, consequently, many agronomic traits such as the number and size of fruits and flowers and kernel yield. Our current understanding of SAM morphology and regulation is based on studies conducted mainly on some angiosperms, including economically important crops such as maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa), and the model species Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). However, studies in other plant species from the gymnosperms are scant, making difficult comparative analyses that help us understand SAM regulation in diverse plant species. This limitation prevents deciphering the mechanisms by which evolution gave rise to the multiple plant structures within the plant kingdom and determines the conserved mechanisms involved in SAM maintenance and operation. This review aims to integrate and analyze the current knowledge of SAM evolution by combining the morphological and molecular information recently reported from the plant kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Kean-Galeno
- Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Plant and Soil Science Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (T.K.-G.); (D.L.-A.)
| | - Damar Lopez-Arredondo
- Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Plant and Soil Science Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (T.K.-G.); (D.L.-A.)
| | - Luis Herrera-Estrella
- Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Plant and Soil Science Department, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (T.K.-G.); (D.L.-A.)
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada/Langebio, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36821, Mexico
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142
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Yang S, Zhou X. SRT-Server: powering the analysis of spatial transcriptomic data. Genome Med 2024; 16:18. [PMID: 38279156 PMCID: PMC10811909 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-024-01288-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spatial resolved transcriptomics (SRT) encompasses a rapidly developing set of technologies that enable the measurement of gene expression in tissue while retaining spatial localization information. SRT technologies and the enabled SRT studies have provided unprecedent insights into the structural and functional underpinnings of complex tissues. As SRT technologies have advanced and an increasing number of SRT studies have emerged, numerous sophisticated statistical and computational methods have been developed to facilitate the analysis and interpretation of SRT data. However, despite the growing popularity of SRT studies and the widespread availability of SRT analysis methods, analysis of large-scale and complex SRT datasets remains challenging and not easily accessible to researchers with limited statistical and computational backgrounds. RESULTS Here, we present SRT-Server, the first webserver designed to carry out comprehensive SRT analyses for a wide variety of SRT technologies while requiring minimal prior computational knowledge. Implemented with cutting-edge web development technologies, SRT-Server is user-friendly and features multiple analytic modules that can perform a range of SRT analyses. With a flowchart-style interface, these different analytic modules on the SRT-Server can be dragged into the main panel and connected to each other to create custom analytic pipelines. SRT-Server then automatically executes the desired analyses, generates corresponding figures, and outputs results-all without requiring prior programming knowledge. We demonstrate the advantages of SRT-Server through three case studies utilizing SRT data collected from two common platforms, highlighting its versatility and values to researchers with varying analytic expertise. CONCLUSIONS Overall, SRT-Server presents a user-friendly, efficient, effective, secure, and expandable solution for SRT data analysis, opening new doors for researchers in the field. SRT-Server is freely available at https://spatialtranscriptomicsanalysis.com/ .
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China.
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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143
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Zhang Y, Petukhov V, Biederstedt E, Que R, Zhang K, Kharchenko PV. Gene panel selection for targeted spatial transcriptomics. Genome Biol 2024; 25:35. [PMID: 38273415 PMCID: PMC10811939 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03174-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted spatial transcriptomics hold particular promise in analyzing complex tissues. Most such methods, however, measure only a limited panel of transcripts, which need to be selected in advance to inform on the cell types or processes being studied. A limitation of existing gene selection methods is their reliance on scRNA-seq data, ignoring platform effects between technologies. Here we describe gpsFISH, a computational method performing gene selection through optimizing detection of known cell types. By modeling and adjusting for platform effects, gpsFISH outperforms other methods. Furthermore, gpsFISH can incorporate cell type hierarchies and custom gene preferences to accommodate diverse design requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yida Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Viktor Petukhov
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Evan Biederstedt
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard Que
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- San Diego Institute of Science, Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Peter V Kharchenko
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- San Diego Institute of Science, Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, USA.
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144
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Hartman A, Satija R. Comparative analysis of multiplexed in situ gene expression profiling technologies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.11.575135. [PMID: 38260366 PMCID: PMC10802595 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.11.575135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The burgeoning interest in in situ multiplexed gene expression profiling technologies has opened new avenues for understanding cellular behavior and interactions. In this study, we present a comparative benchmark analysis of six in situ gene expression profiling methods, including both commercially available and academically developed methods, using publicly accessible mouse brain datasets. We find that standard sensitivity metrics, such as the number of unique molecules detected per cell, are not directly comparable across datasets due to substantial differences in the incidence of off-target molecular artifacts impacting specificity. To address these challenges, we explored various potential sources of molecular artifacts, developed novel metrics to control for them, and utilized these metrics to evaluate and compare different in situ technologies. Finally, we demonstrate how molecular false positives can seriously confound spatially-aware differential expression analysis, requiring caution in the interpretation of downstream results. Our analysis provides guidance for the selection, processing, and interpretation of in situ spatial technologies.
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145
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Ma W, Song X, Yuan GC, Wang P. RECCIPE: A new framework assessing localized cell-cell interaction on gene expression in multicellular ST data. Front Genet 2024; 15:1322886. [PMID: 38327830 PMCID: PMC10847567 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1322886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-cell interaction (CCI) plays a pivotal role in cellular communication within the tissue microenvironment. The recent development of spatial transcriptomics (ST) technology and associated data analysis methods has empowered researchers to systematically investigate CCI. However, existing methods are tailored to single-cell resolution datasets, whereas the majority of ST platforms lack such resolution. Additionally, the detection of CCI through association screening based on ST data, which has complicated dependence structure, necessitates proper control of false discovery rates due to the multiple hypothesis testing issue in high dimensional spaces. To address these challenges, we introduce RECCIPE, a novel method designed for identifying cell signaling interactions across multiple cell types in spatial transcriptomic data. RECCIPE integrates gene expression data, spatial information and cell type composition in a multivariate regression framework, enabling genome-wide screening for changes in gene expression levels attributed to CCIs. We show that RECCIPE not only achieves high accuracy in simulated datasets but also provides new biological insights from real data obtained from a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Overall, our framework provides a useful tool for studying impact of cell-cell interactions on gene expression in multicellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Ma
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Xiaoyu Song
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Institute for Health Care Delivery Science, Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Guo-Cheng Yuan
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Pei Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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146
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Wang L, Hu Y, Gao L. Adjustment of scRNA-seq data to improve cell-type decomposition of spatial transcriptomics. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae063. [PMID: 38426323 PMCID: PMC10939420 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Most sequencing-based spatial transcriptomics (ST) technologies do not achieve single-cell resolution where each captured location (spot) may contain a mixture of cells from heterogeneous cell types, and several cell-type decomposition methods have been proposed to estimate cell type proportions of each spot by integrating with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. However, these existing methods did not fully consider the effect of distribution difference between scRNA-seq and ST data for decomposition, leading to biased cell-type-specific genes derived from scRNA-seq for ST data. To address this issue, we develop an instance-based transfer learning framework to adjust scRNA-seq data by ST data to correctly match cell-type-specific gene expression. We evaluate the effect of raw and adjusted scRNA-seq data on cell-type decomposition by eight leading decomposition methods using both simulated and real datasets. Experimental results show that data adjustment can effectively reduce distribution difference and improve decomposition, thus enabling for a more precise depiction on spatial organization of cell types. We highlight the importance of data adjustment in integrative analysis of scRNA-seq with ST data and provide guidance for improved cell-type decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanying Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an 710100, China
| | - Yuxuan Hu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an 710100, China
| | - Lin Gao
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an 710100, China
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147
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Tao Y, Sun X, Wang F. BiGATAE: a bipartite graph attention auto-encoder enhancing spatial domain identification from single-slice to multi-slices. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae045. [PMID: 38385877 PMCID: PMC10883416 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in spatial transcriptomics technology have revolutionized our ability to comprehensively characterize gene expression patterns within the tissue microenvironment, enabling us to grasp their functional significance in a spatial context. One key field of research in spatial transcriptomics is the identification of spatial domains, which refers to distinct regions within the tissue where specific gene expression patterns are observed. Diverse methodologies have been proposed, each with its unique characteristics. As the availability of spatial transcriptomics data continues to expand, there is a growing need for methods that can integrate information from multiple slices to discover spatial domains. To extend the applicability of existing single-slice analysis methods to multi-slice clustering, we introduce BiGATAE (Bipartite Graph Attention Auto Encoder) that leverages gene expression information from adjacent tissue slices to enhance spatial transcriptomics data. BiGATAE comprises two steps: aligning slices to generate an adjacency matrix for different spots in consecutive slices and constructing a bipartite graph. Subsequently, it utilizes a graph attention network to integrate information across different slices. Then it can seamlessly integrate with pre-existing techniques. To evaluate the performance of BiGATAE, we conducted benchmarking analyses on three different datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that for existing single-slice clustering methods, the integration of BiGATAE significantly enhances their performance. Moreover, single-slice clustering methods integrated with BiGATAE outperform methods specifically designed for multi-slice integration. These results underscore the proficiency of BiGATAE in facilitating information transfer across multiple slices and its capacity to broaden the applicability and sustainability of pre-existing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhao Tao
- Shanghai Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing, Handan Street, 200433 Shanghai, China
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Fudan University Handan Street, 200433 Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoang Sun
- Shanghai Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing, Handan Street, 200433 Shanghai, China
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Fudan University Handan Street, 200433 Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Shanghai Key Lab of Intelligent Information Processing, Handan Street, 200433 Shanghai, China
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Fudan University Handan Street, 200433 Shanghai, China
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148
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Zahedi R, Ghamsari R, Argha A, Macphillamy C, Beheshti A, Alizadehsani R, Lovell NH, Lotfollahi M, Alinejad-Rokny H. Deep learning in spatially resolved transcriptfomics: a comprehensive technical view. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae082. [PMID: 38483255 PMCID: PMC10939360 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) is a pioneering method for simultaneously studying morphological contexts and gene expression at single-cell precision. Data emerging from SRT are multifaceted, presenting researchers with intricate gene expression matrices, precise spatial details and comprehensive histology visuals. Such rich and intricate datasets, unfortunately, render many conventional methods like traditional machine learning and statistical models ineffective. The unique challenges posed by the specialized nature of SRT data have led the scientific community to explore more sophisticated analytical avenues. Recent trends indicate an increasing reliance on deep learning algorithms, especially in areas such as spatial clustering, identification of spatially variable genes and data alignment tasks. In this manuscript, we provide a rigorous critique of these advanced deep learning methodologies, probing into their merits, limitations and avenues for further refinement. Our in-depth analysis underscores that while the recent innovations in deep learning tailored for SRT have been promising, there remains a substantial potential for enhancement. A crucial area that demands attention is the development of models that can incorporate intricate biological nuances, such as phylogeny-aware processing or in-depth analysis of minuscule histology image segments. Furthermore, addressing challenges like the elimination of batch effects, perfecting data normalization techniques and countering the overdispersion and zero inflation patterns seen in gene expression is pivotal. To support the broader scientific community in their SRT endeavors, we have meticulously assembled a comprehensive directory of readily accessible SRT databases, hoping to serve as a foundation for future research initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Zahedi
- UNSW BioMedical Machine Learning Lab (BML), The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Reza Ghamsari
- UNSW BioMedical Machine Learning Lab (BML), The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Ahmadreza Argha
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering (IHealthE), UNSW Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Callum Macphillamy
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, 5371, Australia
| | - Amin Beheshti
- School of Computing, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Roohallah Alizadehsani
- Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Melbourne, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Nigel H Lovell
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering (IHealthE), UNSW Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Mohammad Lotfollahi
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Munich, Germany
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hamid Alinejad-Rokny
- UNSW BioMedical Machine Learning Lab (BML), The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering (IHealthE), UNSW Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
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149
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Zhao C, Xu Z, Wang X, Tao S, MacDonald WA, He K, Poholek AC, Chen K, Huang H, Chen W. Innovative super-resolution in spatial transcriptomics: a transformer model exploiting histology images and spatial gene expression. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae052. [PMID: 38436557 PMCID: PMC10939304 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatial transcriptomics technologies have shed light on the complexities of tissue structures by accurately mapping spatial microenvironments. Nonetheless, a myriad of methods, especially those utilized in platforms like Visium, often relinquish spatial details owing to intrinsic resolution limitations. In response, we introduce TransformerST, an innovative, unsupervised model anchored in the Transformer architecture, which operates independently of references, thereby ensuring cost-efficiency by circumventing the need for single-cell RNA sequencing. TransformerST not only elevates Visium data from a multicellular level to a single-cell granularity but also showcases adaptability across diverse spatial transcriptomics platforms. By employing a vision transformer-based encoder, it discerns latent image-gene expression co-representations and is further enhanced by spatial correlations, derived from an adaptive graph Transformer module. The sophisticated cross-scale graph network, utilized in super-resolution, significantly boosts the model's accuracy, unveiling complex structure-functional relationships within histology images. Empirical evaluations validate its adeptness in revealing tissue subtleties at the single-cell scale. Crucially, TransformerST adeptly navigates through image-gene co-representation, maximizing the synergistic utility of gene expression and histology images, thereby emerging as a pioneering tool in spatial transcriptomics. It not only enhances resolution to a single-cell level but also introduces a novel approach that optimally utilizes histology images alongside gene expression, providing a refined lens for investigating spatial transcriptomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongyue Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zhongli Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Xinjun Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, 10065, New York, USA
| | - Shiyue Tao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15261, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William A MacDonald
- Health Sciences Sequencing Core at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Department of Pediatrics , University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kun He
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics , University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amanda C Poholek
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics , University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Immunology , University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA
- Health Sciences Sequencing Core at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Department of Pediatrics , University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kong Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15213, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Heng Huang
- Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742, Maryland, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15224, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15261, Pennsylvania, USA
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150
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Hu Y, Xiao K, Yang H, Liu X, Zhang C, Shi Q. Spatially contrastive variational autoencoder for deciphering tissue heterogeneity from spatially resolved transcriptomics. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae016. [PMID: 38324623 PMCID: PMC10849194 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) have brought ever-increasing opportunities to characterize expression landscape in the context of tissue spatiality. Nevertheless, there still exist multiple challenges to accurately detect spatial functional regions in tissue. Here, we present a novel contrastive learning framework, SPAtially Contrastive variational AutoEncoder (SpaCAE), which contrasts transcriptomic signals of each spot and its spatial neighbors to achieve fine-grained tissue structures detection. By employing a graph embedding variational autoencoder and incorporating a deep contrastive strategy, SpaCAE achieves a balance between spatial local information and global information of expression, enabling effective learning of representations with spatial constraints. Particularly, SpaCAE provides a graph deconvolutional decoder to address the smoothing effect of local spatial structure on expression's self-supervised learning, an aspect often overlooked by current graph neural networks. We demonstrated that SpaCAE could achieve effective performance on SRT data generated from multiple technologies for spatial domains identification and data denoising, making it a remarkable tool to obtain novel insights from SRT studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaofeng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Kai Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hengyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Chuanchao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Qianqian Shi
- Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center of Agricultural Big Data, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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