Defining transcriptomic niches in human fibrotic lung with multi-sample spatial transcriptomics analysis using the MAPLE algorithm

Multi-sample spatial transcriptomics reveals distinct regional fibrotic programs and cellular niches in human IPF, with 10X Xenium validation confirming key findings.

• Why it matters: Understanding the spatial organization of cell states and fibrotic processes in IPF is crucial for developing targeted therapies, but the spatial context of cellular heterogeneity remains poorly characterized.
• What they did: A comprehensive pipeline utilizing the MAPLE algorithm was developed to analyze multi-sample lung spatial transcriptomics data, identifying cell-spot subpopulations and spatial biomarkers across clinical regions, validated with 10X Xenium ST data.
• The result: Findings show epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions and region-specific fibrosis, including extracellular matrix changes in upper lobes and immune niches in lower lobes, with senescent cells colocalizing with aberrant niches, advancing understanding of IPF pathology.