Studying immune to non-immune cell cross-talk using single-cell technologies

• Published in: Current opinion in systems biology Vol. 18; pp. 87 - 94
• Main Authors: Elmentaite, R., Teichmann, S.A., Madissoon, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Cell-cell interactions; Cross-talk applications; Immunity; Single-cell technologies; Cell-cell interactions; Cross-talk applications; Single-cell technologies; Immunity
• ISSN: 2452-3100; 2452-3100
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2019.10.005

Single-cell RNA-sequencing has uncovered immune heterogeneity, including novel cell types, states and lineages that have expanded our understanding of the immune system as a whole. More recently, studies involving both immune and non-immune cells have demonstrated the importance of immune microenvironment in development, homeostasis and disease. This review focuses on the single-cell studies mapping cell–cell interactions for variety of tissues in development, health and disease. In addition, we address the need to generate a comprehensive interaction map to answer fundamental questions in immunology as well as experimental and computational strategies required for this purpose. •Systems view of immunology achieved via studying cell–cell interactions by single-cell methods.•Importance of studying immune vs niche cell cross-talk in development, homeostasis and disease.•Outlook of single-cell technologies in interrogating immune to niche cell cross-talk.