Skin in the game: a review of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in dermatological research
Samuel Schepps, Jonathan Xu, Henry Yang, Jenna Mandel, Jaanvi Mehta, Julianna Tolotta, Nicole M. Baker, Volkan Tekmen, Neda Nikbakht, Paolo Fortina, Ignacia Fuentes, Bonnie LaFleur, Raymond J. Cho, Andrew P. South
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) are two emerging research technologies that uniquely characterize gene expression microenvironments on a cellular or subcellular level. The skin, a clinically accessible tissue composed of diverse, essential cell populations, serves as an ideal target for these high-resolution investigative approaches. Using these tools, researchers are assembling a compendium of data and discoveries in healthy skin as well as a range of dermatologic pathophysiologies, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and cutaneous malignancies. The ongoing advancement of single-cell approaches, coupled with anticipated decreases in cost with increased adoption, will reshape dermatologic research, profoundly influencing disease characterization, prognosis, and ultimately clinical practice.