Human Cell Atlas and cell-type authentication for regenerative medicine

Exp Mol Med. 2020 Sep;52(9):1443-1451. doi: 10.1038/s12276-020-0421-1. Epub 2020 Sep 15.

Abstract

In modern biology, the correct identification of cell types is required for the developmental study of tissues and organs and the production of functional cells for cell therapies and disease modeling. For decades, cell types have been defined on the basis of morphological and physiological markers and, more recently, immunological markers and molecular properties. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing have opened new doors for the characterization of cells at the individual and spatiotemporal levels on the basis of their RNA profiles, vastly transforming our understanding of cell types. The objective of this review is to survey the current progress in the field of cell-type identification, starting with the Human Cell Atlas project, which aims to sequence every cell in the human body, to molecular marker databases for individual cell types and other sources that address cell-type identification for regenerative medicine based on cell data guidelines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Guidelines as Topic
  • Humans
  • Organ Specificity* / genetics
  • Regenerative Medicine / methods*
  • Regenerative Medicine / standards
  • Stem Cells / classification*
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Translational Research, Biomedical / methods
  • Translational Research, Biomedical / standards

Substances

  • Biomarkers