Several high‐quality review papers already exist on spatial transcriptomics. Spatial transcriptomics provides information on the spatial distribution of gene expression profiles, thereby elucidating interesting features previously not revealed by single‐cell RNA sequencing methods that lack spatial information. ] Despite the improvements in sequencing technologies, single‐cell transcriptome analysis techniques are still limited in that all information related to the spatial organization of cells in the tissue is permanently lost owing to tissue dissociation. ] Furthermore, recent advances in single‐cell transcriptome analysis techniques allow researchers to analyze transcriptomes with unprecedentedly high throughput and single‐cell resolution. RNA sequencing has served as one of the major approaches for basic biological research and clinical diagnosis because the transcriptome serves as a blueprint of the proteome, the actual functional proteins of the cell, and therefore reflects the current cellular state. Molecular expression patterns of diverse biological states have been analyzed by RNA sequencing owing to the efficient and sensitive detection of RNA by the simple amplification of nucleic acids by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high‐throughput readouts by next‐generation sequencing (NGS). Strategies for examining these biological principles include exploring cells that exist in the tissue (cell‐type inventory) and their spatial arrangement and interaction with each other (understanding their spatial organization). ] To understand the complexity of biological systems ranging from various physiological phenomena to the pathological principles of diseases, it is necessary to assess the functions of individual cells and their interactions to orchestrate complex functions of tissues and organs. ] Another example that illustrates the importance of spatial organization is cancer tissue, in which cells actively interact with the surrounding tumor microenvironment to generate suppressive conditions that block the action of immune cells, thereby bypassing immune defense mechanisms and facilitating proliferation. ] The spatial organization of tissues regulates the expression of transcription factors related to differentiation and ultimately generates a robust organization of cellular structures related to their functions. Stem cells differentiate during development primarily through cell‐to‐cell interactions and subsequent signaling, which is governed by the relative positions of cells within the embryo. Spatial Transcriptomics: Emerging TechnologyĮach cell in a multicellular organism interacts with the surrounding environment. Technical aspects of existing technologies and future directions of new developments (as of March 2023), computational analysis of spatial transcriptome data, application notes in neuroscience and cancer studies, and discussions regarding future directions of spatial multi‐omics and their expanding roles in biomedical applications are emphasized.ġ.1. In this review, recent progress in spatial transcriptomics and its applications in neuroscience and cancer studies are highlighted. Currently, the ability to simultaneously characterize gene expression profiles of cells and relevant cellular environment is a paradigm shift for biological studies. By transitioning from conventional biological studies to “in situ” biology, spatial transcriptomics can provide transcriptome‐scale spatial information. Spatial transcriptomics is a newly emerging field that enables high‐throughput investigation of the spatial localization of transcripts and related analyses in various applications for biological systems.
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