ART x SCIENCE 2024 #28
Exploring genes in space within organoids

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) is a novel, disruptive technology that permits exploration of gene regulatory networks with spatial and temporal resolution. The insight provided by ST platforms promises to shed new light on developmental biology across an array of tissue types including organoids. In particular, organoids offer the opportunity to model development and disease while overcoming many of the limitations of animal models or 2D cell cultures. As organoids can be cultured from genetically engineered stem cell and patient cell lines, they permit the detailed analysis of the transcriptional perturbations that underlie disease pathogenesis. More specifically, organoids display 3D organisation in vitro, making them prime candidates for exploration with ST. We applied STOmics, the first ST platform to offer sub-cellular resolution while capturing transcriptome-wide information, to profile an array of organoids including: brain, heart, lung, cartilage, blood and kidney (the ones displayed in the image).

Body area Kidney

Impact

This study illustrates the power of spatial transcriptomics to improve our understanding of human organoids.

reNEW research

We have recently begun this collaborative research project.

Image description

This picture is of stem cell-derived kidney organoids on a slide where coloured dots represent different genes and expression patterns. This tells us which genes are expressed and where they are expressed within individual cells inside the organoid.

Credits

Maria Nucera, Transcriptomics and Bioinformatics Lab. The image is derived from tissue sections made by Michelle Scurr, from organoids generated in the MCRI Kidney Regeneration Lab.