Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Visceral Adipose Tissue in Different Metabolic Status: Methodological Validation and Application.
Adipose tissue consists predominantly of lipid-filled adipocytes with limited cytoplasmic space, posing challenges for spatial transcriptomic analysis. Spatially-resolved laser-activated cell sorting (SLACS) enables precise isolation of tissue sections, offering a strategy to overcome these challenges.
Human visceral adipose tissue (VAT) samples from lean individuals and those with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (Ob-DM) were analyzed. SLACS was used to isolate perivascular (PV) and adipocyte-rich (AD) areas, followed by full-length RNA sequencing to investigate pathways, cellular composition, and post-transcriptional regulation.
PV and AD areas exhibited distinct transcriptional patterns. Fibro-inflammatory signatures and vascular remodeling pathways were enriched in the PV, while lipid metabolism and antioxidant pathways were predominant in the AD. Cellular deconvolution suggested area- and disease-specific cell composition. Post-transcriptional modifications, including adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing and isoform switching in metabolic genes were observed in Ob-DM, suggesting a potential contributor to adipose dysfunction.
This study demonstrates the technical feasibility of SLACS-based spatial transcriptomic profiling in human VAT, with exploratory biological findings that warrant validation in larger cohorts.
Human visceral adipose tissue (VAT) samples from lean individuals and those with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (Ob-DM) were analyzed. SLACS was used to isolate perivascular (PV) and adipocyte-rich (AD) areas, followed by full-length RNA sequencing to investigate pathways, cellular composition, and post-transcriptional regulation.
PV and AD areas exhibited distinct transcriptional patterns. Fibro-inflammatory signatures and vascular remodeling pathways were enriched in the PV, while lipid metabolism and antioxidant pathways were predominant in the AD. Cellular deconvolution suggested area- and disease-specific cell composition. Post-transcriptional modifications, including adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing and isoform switching in metabolic genes were observed in Ob-DM, suggesting a potential contributor to adipose dysfunction.
This study demonstrates the technical feasibility of SLACS-based spatial transcriptomic profiling in human VAT, with exploratory biological findings that warrant validation in larger cohorts.
Authors
Jung Jung, Huang Huang, Lee Lee, Kim Kim, Oh Oh, Park Park, Kim Kim, Kim Kim, Oh Oh, Lee Lee, Moon Moon, Choi Choi
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