Emerging Roles of Spatial Transcriptomics in Liver Research

Abstract

The application of spatial transcriptomic technologies has significantly expanded our biological understanding. Hepatic intricate cellular heterogeneity and the pivotal role of zonation in maintaining hepatic function underscore how these technologies can unravel the complex spatial and cellular dynamics within both healthy and diseased livers. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the technical innovations and bioinformatics strategies that underpin spatial transcriptome analysis. Further, through recent discoveries in liver biology and pathology, enabled by these advanced methodologies, the review illustrates novel cell types, cell-cell interactions, and cellular reprograms in healthy and injured livers, as well as tumor microenvironment associated with patient prognosis and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. With emphasizing the challenges and future directions, it points to the immense promise these technologies hold for identifying new therapeutic targets and advancing personalized medicine in hepatology, despite the hurdles in widespread adoption and standardization.