About this Research Topic
The spatial arrangement of cells in tissues can affect disease outcomes and mechanisms. Advanced technologies (including multiplex immunostaining and spatial transcriptomics) and analytical tools (such as HistoCat++, CellProfiler, and ilastik) have been developed to investigate tissue microenvironments, providing a better understanding of immune cells within the tissue. By identifying and localizing different cell types and their gene expression patterns, researchers can gain insight into the interactions between immune cells and their surroundings. This understanding can lead to the development of more targeted therapeutics that manipulate specific immune cell subsets or interactions with other cell types within the tissue. By improving our understanding of immune cells and their role in disease, we may develop more effective therapies for a wide range of human diseases.
The field of spatial immunology is rapidly expanding due to the increasing availability of advanced technologies that can detect a wide range of parameters in a single experiment. Multiplex immunostaining allows for the detection of hundreds of proteins, while spatial transcriptomics can detect tens of thousands of genes, each with sub-cellular resolutions. As a result, the data generated from these technologies is becoming increasingly complex due to the large number of possible cell phenotypes and interactions. In addition, the development of these technologies has also led to an overwhelming number of analytical methods for comprehending the tissue microenvironment.
The goal of spatial immunology is to enhance our understanding of the tissue microenvironment and its influence on immune cells, leading to the development of more effective therapies for a wide range of diseases.
This research topic aims to collate various technological and analytical approaches used for understanding the tissue microenvironment, providing a resource for new findings and approaches to addressing the challenges that arise when exploring tissue microenvironments.
We will be accepting reviews and original articles that investigate immune cells within tissue environments. This includes research discoveries relating to tissue microenvironments and methodologies (experimental or analytical) that improve the development or interpretation of spatial immunology. Submissions can relate to (but are not limited to):
• Tissue microenvironment of any human disease
• Experimental and analytical methods for analyzing spatial data
• Multi-omic data (including proteomic and transcriptomic data)
We acknowledge the initiation and support of this Research Topic by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS). We hereby state publicly that the IUIS has had no editorial input in articles included in this Research Topic, thus ensuring that all aspects of this Research Topic are evaluated objectively, unbiased by any specific policy or opinion of the IUIS.
The field of spatial immunology is rapidly expanding due to the increasing availability of advanced technologies that can detect a wide range of parameters in a single experiment. Multiplex immunostaining allows for the detection of hundreds of proteins, while spatial transcriptomics can detect tens of thousands of genes, each with sub-cellular resolutions. As a result, the data generated from these technologies is becoming increasingly complex due to the large number of possible cell phenotypes and interactions. In addition, the development of these technologies has also led to an overwhelming number of analytical methods for comprehending the tissue microenvironment.
The goal of spatial immunology is to enhance our understanding of the tissue microenvironment and its influence on immune cells, leading to the development of more effective therapies for a wide range of diseases.
This research topic aims to collate various technological and analytical approaches used for understanding the tissue microenvironment, providing a resource for new findings and approaches to addressing the challenges that arise when exploring tissue microenvironments.
We will be accepting reviews and original articles that investigate immune cells within tissue environments. This includes research discoveries relating to tissue microenvironments and methodologies (experimental or analytical) that improve the development or interpretation of spatial immunology. Submissions can relate to (but are not limited to):
• Tissue microenvironment of any human disease
• Experimental and analytical methods for analyzing spatial data
• Multi-omic data (including proteomic and transcriptomic data)
We acknowledge the initiation and support of this Research Topic by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS). We hereby state publicly that the IUIS has had no editorial input in articles included in this Research Topic, thus ensuring that all aspects of this Research Topic are evaluated objectively, unbiased by any specific policy or opinion of the IUIS.
Keywords: Tissue microenvironment, spatial immunology, spatial proteomics, spatial transcriptomics, human immunology, Society Affiliation RT
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
