Advances in single-cell sequencing: insights from organ transplantation

Mil Med Res. 2021 Aug 13;8(1):45. doi: 10.1186/s40779-021-00336-1.

Abstract

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a comprehensive technical tool to analyze intracellular and intercellular interaction data by whole transcriptional profile analysis. Here, we describe the application in biomedical research, focusing on the immune system during organ transplantation and rejection. Unlike conventional transcriptome analysis, this method provides a full map of multiple cell populations in one specific tissue and presents a dynamic and transient unbiased method to explore the progression of allograft dysfunction, starting from the stress response to final graft failure. This promising sequencing technology remarkably improves individualized organ rejection treatment by identifying decisive cellular subgroups and cell-specific interactions.

Keywords: 10× Genomics chromium; Immune cell interactions; Single-cell RNA sequencing; Transcriptional profiling; Transplant rejection.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Humans
  • Organ Transplantation / instrumentation*
  • Organ Transplantation / methods
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / instrumentation
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods*
  • Single-Cell Analysis / instrumentation
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods*