Unraveling Alzheimer’s disease: insights from single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomic

• Published in: Frontiers in neurology Vol. 15; p. 1515981
• Main Authors: He, Yibo, Lu, Wenqiang, Zhou, Xiao, Mu, Jie, Shen, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 17.12.2024
• Subjects: Alzheimer’s disease; cognitive decline; microglia; neuroinflammation; Neurology; single-cell sequencing; spatial transcriptomics; single-cell sequencing; Alzheimer’s disease; neuroinflammation; spatial transcriptomics; astrocytes; cognitive decline; microglia; gene expression
• ISSN: 1664-2295; 1664-2295
• DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1515981

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive decline, primarily affecting memory and executive function. This review highlights recent advancements in single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, which provide detailed insights into the cellular heterogeneity and neuroimmune mechanisms of AD. The review addresses the need for understanding complex cellular interactions to identify novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Single-cell sequencing has revolutionized our understanding by mapping gene expression at the individual cell level, revealing distinct microglial and astrocytic states that contribute to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. These technologies have uncovered disease-associated microglial subpopulations and gene expression changes linked to AD risk genes, essential for developing targeted therapies. In conclusion, the integration of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics with other omics data is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of AD, paving the way for personalized medicine. Continued interdisciplinary collaboration will be vital in translating these findings into effective treatments, improving patient outcomes.