Single cell RNA sequencing in autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases : current applications, challenges and a step toward precision medicine

Kuret, Tadeja (author), Sodin-Šemrl, Snežna (author), Leskošek, Branimir (author), Ferk, Polonca (author)

Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) represents a new large scale and high throughput technique allowing analysis of the whole transcriptome at the resolution of an individual cell. It has emerged as an imperative method in life science research, uncovering complex cellular networks and providing indices that will eventually lead to the development of more targeted and personalized therapies. The importance of scRNA-seq has been particularly highlighted through the analysis of complex biological systems, in which cellular heterogeneity is a key aspect, such as the immune system. Autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases represent a group of disorders, associated with a dysregulated immune system and high patient heterogeneity in both pathophysiological and clinical aspects. This complicates the complete understanding of underlying pathological mechanisms, associated with limited therapeutic options available and their long-term inefficiency and even toxicity. There is an unmet need to investigate, in depth, the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases and drug resistance, identify novel therapeutic targets, as well as make a step forward in using stratified and informed therapeutic decisions, which could now be achieved with the use of single cell approaches. This review summarizes the current use of scRNA-seq in studying different rheumatic diseases, based on recent findings from published in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, as well as discusses the potential implementation of scRNA-seq in the development of precision medicine in rheumatology.

• Language: English
• Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, RNA sequencing, single cell, systemic sclerosis, precision medicine
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 18 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 8, art. 822804
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-145362
• UDC: 616-002
• ISSN on article: 2296-858X
• DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.822804
• COBISS.SI-ID: 93835779
• Publication date in RUL: 19.04.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in medicine
• Shortened title: Front. med.
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• ISSN: 2296-858X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523095065

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: revmatoidni artritis, sistemski eritematozni lupus, sekvenciranje RNA

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P3-0154
• Name: Metodologija za analizo podatkov v medicini