New spatial omics method presented in Nature Biotechnology
Per Andrén, Professor at Uppsala University has, in collaboration with colleagues at Stockholm University and KTH, introduced a new Spatial Omics method in Nature Biotechnology. By combining the two techniques Imaging Mass Spectrometry, MSI, and Spatial Transcriptomics, SRT, the publication is an important step for research on biological tissue.
(Image removed) MSI Lab Per Andrén, Uppsala Biomedical Centre
“Our method can visualise both low-molecular metabolites, such as signaling molecules in the brain, and RNA transcripts – in the same biological tissue section – without compromising the quality or precision of the results. The findings of our study have the potential to significantly advance the fields of spatial biology and pathological research,” states Per Andrén, Professor of Mass Spectrometry Imaging at Uppsala University's Faculty of Pharmacy and SciLifeLab, and one of the study's authors.
The method, successfully demonstrated using tissue sections from both mice and the human brain, targeted signaling molecules and their role in Parkinson's disease. By analyzing the complex molecular profiles in a tissue section, researchers can obtain better understanding of Parkinson's disease and other complex illnesses.
An important aspect of the method is its capability to visualise molecules and their distribution within the tissue, while simultaneously analyse gene activity. This methodology enables researchers to explore the connection between gene expression and molecular activity at a higher level.
(Image removed) Per Andrén, Faculty of Pharmacy
“Our method is applicable beyond neurobiology, with potential to change the landscape in various areas of biological and medical research, for example oncology research. By studying tumor environments and treatment responses at the molecular level, this method can be a gateway to understanding complex diseases and optimising therapeutic strategies,” says Per Andrén.
The research is carried out at the SciLifeLab platform for Spatial Biology with financial support from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Swedish Brain Foundation, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, EU H2020, EASI-Genomics and SciLifeLab.
LEARN MORE
- Read article Spatial multimodal analysis of transcriptomes and metabolomes in tissues' has been scheduled for publication (Nature Biotechnologyk)
- Research in Medical Mass Spectrometry at Uppsala University
- New findings on adverse effects of L-Dopa therapy of Parkinson's disease
- Uppsala's MSI environment continues to expand
- MSI Lab Per Andrén joins SciLifeLab Spatial Omics
FACTS
- Mass Spectrometry Imaging, MSI, enables analysis and visualisation of endogenous metabolites, neurotransmitters, lipids, peptides and small proteins as well as drugs and their metabolites, in thin biological tissue sections with high molecular specificity.
- Molecular images are created by ionizing molecules and collecting mass spectra from each position (pixels) on a tissue surface at a selected lateral resolution. Thousands of ions can be detected in each pixel.
- The distribution of individual molecules on the surface of the tissue section is then extracted and a molecule-specific image is created. The image can be correlated with the original histological image or images produced with other types of imaging methods from the same or consecutive tissue sections.
CONTACT
(Image removed) Per Andrén, Professor
Dep. of Pharmaceutical Biosciences
per.andren@farmbio.uu.se
text: Elin Bäckström, Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt, Dan Pettersson